SAN ANTONIO – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros women's basketball team used an 18-5 run over the final six minutes of the second quarter to pull away and beat the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals 68-50 on Thursday at McDermott Convocation Center.
 
The Vaqueros  (5-4) led 21-19 when junior Shawnte' Goff hit jumpers to sandwich a trio of baskets by junior Mary Savoy to make it 31-19. Brianna Williams and freshman Bernesha Peters traded baskets and then, after an Yvonne Maosa free throw, senior Rickell Preston hit a jumper to push the lead out to 13 for the first time. Williams hit another basket, but sophomore Hildur Björg Kjartansdóttir made a pair of free throws and Preston nailed a layup at the buzzer.
 
The Vaqueros went 8-for-13 from the field while holding the Cardinals (3-2) 2-for-11 during the run.
 
Goff finished with a game-high tying 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Savoy posted her third double-double with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 13 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Preston also reached double-figures, scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, plus 4-of-4 from the line, with five rebounds and two steals.
 
Williams led the Cardinals with 16 points and seven rebounds. She gave the Cardinals their only lead on a three-pointer that made it 3-0. The Vaqueros scored the next seven points, including a Peters three, as part of a 15-4 run to push their lead to eight.
 
The Cardinals pulled to within seven on a Celia Garcia Paunero three that made it 44-37 with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter, but the Vaqueros outscored the Cardinals 24-11 over a 13-minute span to push the game out of reach.
 
The Vaqueros are back in action on Saturday at 12 p.m. when they visit Oklahoma State, which is currently receiving votes in both Top 25 polls.

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