EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women's basketball team came back from an 18-point deficit to beat Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) 57-50 to open up the UTRGV Fall Classic on Friday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
This was UTRGV's (4-3) biggest comeback since Dec. 3, 2013, a 25-point comeback at Houston Baptist.
 
Senior Idil Türk led UTRGV with 13 points. Junior Megan Johnson scored 10 points with a season-high eight rebounds. Senior Jameka Dowell scored eight points. Graduate student Madison Northcutt finished with seven points, six rebounds and a career-high three steals. Senior Krisynthia Sampson also scored seven points. Junior Makaela Mosley scored six points with a career-high seven rebounds. Sophomore Amara Graham dished out a career-high tying seven assists while grabbing a season-high tying four rebounds and scoring four points.
 
Shala Dobbins and Erin Willis led PVAMU (2-2) with 13 points each. Jordyn Penniman scored 12 points while hitting four three-pointers
 
UTRGV jumped out to an 8-2 lead on a pair of Northcutt layups, but PVAMU responded by scoring the next 10 points as part of a 21-1 run to take a 23-9 lead. Penniman hit a trio of three-pointers during the run.
 
Mosley answered with a pair of free throws and a jumper to bring UTRGV within 10 before PVAMU closed the half on a 7-1 run to go up 34-16.
 
Türk nailed a pair of three-pointers and Sampson made a jumper and a three to help UTRGV open the third quarter on an 17-3 run to pull within 37-33 at the 3:08 mark of the third quarter.
 
PVAMU scored the next five points. Johnson responded with two free throws and a layup and then Dowellhit a three at the buzzer to bring UTRGV within 42-40 at the end of the quarter.
 
Senior Nichelle Hyman opened the fourth quarter with a game-tying layup and then Dowell hit a pair of free throws to give UTRGV a 44-43 lead. PVAMU got as close as one twice, including 47-46 before a Graham three-point play gave UTRGV its first two-possession lead.
 
Then, with the score 52-50, a Sampson layup, a Graham free throw and two Türk free throws put the game on ice.
 
UTRGV closes out the tournament on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Louisiana, which fell to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 64-63 in the first game of Friday. Fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon is hosting a toy drive.Fans that donate a new, unwrapped toy will receive free general admission. Donations will be delivered to the Edinburg Children's Hospital by Tau Kappa Epsilon. Current UTRGV students, who already receive free admission, will receive free popcorn as a thank you for their donations.PVAMU faces Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the first game of the day at 4:30. Doors open at 3:30.

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