The UTRGV women’s basketball team lost its season opener 95-63 to the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Monday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Vaqueros (0-1) were led by sophomores Deborah Ogayemi and Iyana Dorsey, who scored 16 points each. Ogayemi added seven rebounds and two steals.Juniors Zariah Sango and Halie Jones chipped in with eight points each.
The Cowgirls (1-0) had five players in double-figure scoring with Lior Garzon leading the way with 19 on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-9 3-pointers made. ClairChastain scored 15 points with six rebounds. Terryn Milton added 14 points, while Lexy Keys scored 13 points and Taylen Collins chipped in with 10 points and 12rebounds.
The Vaqueros used strong defense and turned it into offense during the second half as Sango got the block on the defensive end and knocked down a jumper to getthe Vaqueros within 42-33. Later during the third, Dorsey knocked down a 3-pointer to get UTRGV within 49-39, but the Cowgirls answered right back with a three-pointer from Keys to push their lead to 52-39 with 6:36 left in the quarter.
Ogayemi, Sango, and Dorsey each had buckets during the fourth quarter, but the Cowgirls pushed their lead to 84-56 with a three-pointer with 5:13 left to play,putting the game out of reach for the Vaqueros.
The Vaqueros will be back in action Thursday when they visit McNeese State at 7 p.m.
