CHICAGO, Ill. – Junior Anushka Maldonado scored a career-high 28 points to lead the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team past the Chicago State University Cougars 64-56 on Thursday at Jones Convocation Center.
 
The Vaqueros are now a program record 11-7 overall and 3-0 in Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play.
 
Maldonado's effort was the highest indivudal scoring effort by a Vaquero and the third-highest in the WAC this season. Maldonado went a career-best 10-for-12 from the field, including a career-high tying 4-for-5 from behind the arc, plus 4-for-4 from the line, with nine rebounds, a career-high tying three steals, two assists and one block. Junior Shawnte' Goff also reached double-figures, scoring 17 points with six rebounds, three assists and one steal.
 
Kaylee Allen led the Cougars (2-15, 0-3 WAC) with 19 points and five rebounds. Layne Murphy scored 15 points with 11 rebounds.
 
The Vaqueros trailed 12-8 with 2:43 remaining in the first quarter, but senior Rickell Preston hit a jumper and then freshman Bernesha Peters, Goff and Maldonado all hit three-pointers to power an 11-0 run that made it 19-12.
 
That Vaqueros pushed their lead to 24-13 on a Maldonado three, and still led by 11 at 26-15 after a jumper by freshman Nichele Hyman, but Allen scored 11 points to fuel a 15-4 run to tie the game at 30 with 2:14 left in the second quarter.
 
Goff hit a layup and a three-pointer, however, as the Vaqueros responded with a 9-1 run to take the lead for good.
 
Now with four road wins for the second year in a row, the Vaqueros look to tie the program record of five (2012-13, 2004-05, 1984-85) when they visit Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Support UTRGV Women's Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube