MANHATTAN, Kansas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team closed out 2019 with a 79-66 loss to Kansas State University on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum.
 
The Vaqueros (5-8) had four players in double-figure scoring with redshirt junior Amara Graham leading the way with 17 points and five rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Ashlei Lopez added 13 points while junior Trelynn Tyler and freshman Sara Bershers each added 11 points.
 
Christianna Carr led Kansas State (6-5) with 20 points and four steals. Peyton Williams added 17 points with nine rebounds with Angela Harris and Ayoka Lee each adding 12 points.
 
The Vaqueros came out in the first quarter on fire from the floor going 9-of-13, including 4-of-6 from beyond the three-point line. UTRGV jumped out to the 7-2 lead after a three-pointer by Tyler and back-to-back buckets by Lopez. 
 
After Kansas State got within 7-6 after a Williams layup, the Vaqueros put together a 15-3 run to close out the first quarter with the 22-9 lead. The 22 points are the second most points scored in the opening quarter this season while the nine points allowed are the second fewest points allowed by the Vaqueros in any quarter this season.
 
Kansas State answered back with the first six points of the second quarter before a layup by Bershers and a three-point play by Lopez gave UTRGV the 27-15 lead with 7:10 left in the first half. Kansas State then went on a 16-3 run to close out the first half to take the 31-30 lead into halftime.
 
Baskets by Harris and Carr gave Kansas State a 36-30 lead to open the third quarter before a jumper by Tyler got the scoring started for the Vaqueros in the second half. Later in the quarter, Williams converted on a three-point play to push Kansas State's lead to 39-32 before a three-pointer by Graham got UTRGV within 39-32 with 5:27 left in the third. Kansas State got their lead up to 11 points at 56-45 after a layup by Carr before a jumper by graduate student Jordan Agustus closed out the scoring in the quarter.
 
Kansas State got their biggest lead of the game at 65-47 after a fast break basket by Williams with 8:20 left in the game. UTRGV got as close as 12 points a couple of different times in the fourth but Kansas State kept them at bay the rest of the way. 
 
The Vaqueros will open 2020 on Saturday, January 4, when it hosts California Baptist in the Western Athletic Conference opener at 12 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Fans can take advantage of Friends & Family Four Packs featuring four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four drinks for $34. Current UTRGV students get free general admission with a valid UTRGV student ID. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at UTRGVTickets.com. Fans purchasing their tickets online prior to game day can save up to $2 per ticket. Doors open at 11.

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