NEW ORLEANS – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s basketball team continued its impressive run on Saturday, securing a 71-53 victory over the New Orleans (UNO) Privateers in a Southland Conference (SLC) matchup at Lakefront Arena. The win marked the Vaqueros’ sixth consecutive victory and was punctuated by several program milestones.
UTRGV’s (15-9, 12-3 SLC) triumph represented the 100th win for head coach Lane Lord during his tenure at the institution. The team also achieved its ninth road win of the season, establishing a new program record for victories away from home. The Vaqueros’ 12 conference wins set a new single-season standard, surpassing their previous best for the second consecutive year.
Senior forward Charlotte O’Keefe delivered a standout performance, recording her 10th double-double of the season with 14 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and one block. This performance also brought her career blocks total to 134, a new program record.
Freshman forward Chazlyn Dettor contributed 17 points and five rebounds, scoring 10 of her points in a pivotal third quarter that decisively shifted the game’s momentum in favor of UTRGV. Junior guard Jalayah Ingram also posted a double-double, tallying 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Redshirt junior guard Erin Maguire added 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists to the Vaqueros’ offensive effort.
Shanihya Brown led the Privateers (2-21, 2-13 SLC) with 18 points, while Sharon Smith added 10. Mikayla Johnson led UNO in rebounding with eight.
New Orleans started strongly, establishing a 10-6 lead and holding UTRGV scoreless for the first three minutes of the game, as the Vaqueros struggled from the field, missing their first seven shot attempts. Maguire sparked the UTRGV offense, scoring four consecutive points with a pull-up jumper and a fastbreak layup following a long pass from Ingram.
UTRGV responded with an 18-0 run that extended into the second quarter, taking a commanding 24-10 lead. The Vaqueros’ defense proved effective, and they dominated the boards during this stretch. Sophomore guard Kayla Lorenz contributed a pair of three-pointers to fuel the momentum shift, and O’Keefe capped the first quarter with a long three-pointer of her own.
The Privateers managed to close the gap with a pair of 5-0 runs in the second quarter, reducing the deficit to 32-24 at halftime. Ingram continued to facilitate the offense effectively, showcasing excellent ball movement to create open looks and maintain the lead.
Dettor proved dominant in the third quarter, scoring 10 of UTRGV’s 23 points in the frame and shooting 4-for-5 from the field with four rebounds. Her performance spearheaded a 12-0 run that extended the lead to 44-26, effectively diminishing the Privateers’ hopes. Lorenz added her third three-pointer at the end of the quarter, sending the Vaqueros into the final period with a 55-36 advantage.
Dettor and Ingram continued to lead the Vaqueros’ attack early in the fourth quarter. After a three-pointer from Dettor, the lead swelled to 62-36, prompting Coach Lord to substitute players from the bench. Freshman forward Rylie Whitehair contributed five points in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer, to maintain the Vaqueros’ comfortable lead.
The Vaqueros will return to the UTRGV Fieldhouse on Thursday to face Lamar in a crucial SLC game at 6:30 p.m., kicking off #RallyTheValley Week, presented by McAllen International Airport. Fans can purchase a #RallyTheValley Week Pack at GoUTRGV.com/RallyTheValleyMiniPlan for $30 to gain access to all eight home games throughout the week.
Single-game tickets are available for purchase at UTRGVTickets.com. Current UTRGV students receive free general admission with their student ID, but must claim a ticket at GoUTRGV.com/StudentTickets. Further information regarding game day logistics, including parking and the clear bag policy, can be found at RallyTheValley.com.
