CEDAR PARK, Utah – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team fell 92-64 to the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the series finale on Monday at America First Event Center. 
 
UTRGV (4-4) had a trio in double-figure scoring with graduate student Amara Graham leading the way with 14 points. Sophomore Sara Bershers chipped in 13 points on 6-of-14 shooting while redshirt junior Burcu Soysal added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. 
 
The Thunderbirds (5-4) were led by Liz Graves, who scored 18 points and added seven rebounds. Kinsley Barrington and Madelyn Eaton each added 12 points withDarri Frandsen and Cherita Daugherty each adding 11 points. 
 
The Thunderbirds came out of the gates on fire as they took the 8-2 lead after a layup and jumper by Frandsen and a layup by Daugherty. Soysal scored six straight points for the Vaqueros to get them within 16-11 with 3:54 left in the quarter but Southern Utah continued its hot streak with an 8-0 run to push their lead to 24-11.
 
Junior Jessica Martino opened the scoring in the second quarter with a layup but the Thunderbirds put together a 9-0 that was capped by a pair of Satini free throws that extended their lead to 38-21. A three-pointer by Bershers got UTRGV within 42-31 with 3:18 left in the half before Southern Utah closed out the half on 9-0 run for the 54-33 lead. 
 
Bershers kicked off the scoring in the second half with a layup before Graves answered back with a pair of free throws as both teams went back-and-forth in the third quarter. Graham converted on a fast break layup that got UTRGV within 60-40 with 7:01 left in the third.
 
That would be as close as the Vaqueros would get as the Thunderbirds put the game out of reach. 
 
The Vaqueros are currently scheduled to be back in action on Feb. 5 to take on Grand Canyon University at 7 p.m. at GCU Arena. 

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