HOUSTON – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s basketball team anxiously stared at the big screen in the Fertitta Center Tuesday night, waiting to see the replay of the final shot of the game.
After review, the team went wild. Houston’s desperation heave didn’t get off on time. On a three-point shot from junior forward Charlotte O’Keefe with three seconds on the clock, UTRGV earned a 70-68 victory over the Cougars to start the season with its first win over a power conference since 2003.
O’Keefe and graduate student Kade Hackerott led the Vaqueros in the win, recording 18 and 20 points, respectively, while combining for 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Sophia Zufelt added nine points in her collegiate debut and was 3-for-5 from behind the arc.
UTRGV forced Houston to commit 15 turnovers in the victory. Gia Cooke and Kierr Merchant scored 18 each to pace the Cougars.
It took the Vaqueros a couple of minutes to settle in and show off their sharp shooting skills. After scoring the first points of the game, UTRGV gave up a 12-0 run to Houston. Zufelt showed no fear despite the deficit and got the Vaqueros going, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers for her first collegiate points.
Houston again extended its lead to 10 points as the full-court press gave the young Vaqueros some early fits. But they found their footing and were within seven at 22-15 after the opening quarter following a three-pointer by freshman guard Gianna Angiolet for her first collegiate points.
Angiolet and fellow freshman guard Kayla Lorenz got UTRGV within two points of the lead early in the second quarter. The Vaqueros went on an 8-0 run behind the shooting of O’Keefe and Hackerott to tie the game at 33-33 with three minutes to play in the half. Neither team made a bucket for over two and a half minutes, then Hackerott nailed a buzzer-beating three to put the Vaqueros on top at halftime.
UTRGV grew its lead to four as it came out of the break strong, looking like a team determined to finish the win. Senior guard Tierra Trotter made an impact down the stretch and the youngsters continued to play well under the bright lights. Angiolet and Lorenz nailed big shots late in the quarter and the game went to the fourth knotted at 53-53.
The Vaqueros were dynamic in the fourth quarter to hold off the Cougars. Hackerott scored seven quick points to grow the lead to 60-56. But Houston made a late push and took a 68-67 lead with 23 seconds left to play.
With 10 seconds on the clock and the ball in Hackerott’s hands in a halfcourt setup, the Vaqueros started to execute the final play. Hackerott passed to O’Keefe, who scoped the options, then took a dribble to her left and lined up a contested three-point shot. It went clean into the net and sent her teammates into a frenzy.
UTRGV’s next game is Saturday at 2 p.m. at UTSA.
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