RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team beat the Dallas Christian College Crusaders 94-42 in an exhibition game on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
The game marked the return of Larry Tidwell, the head coach of the Crusaders who is also the winningest coach in UTRGV history after leading the team from 2013-18 and going 85-75. Tidwell led the team to the first three postseason appearances in program history.
 
Sophomore Maria Llorente led the Vaqueros with 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting, six assists, five rebounds and one steal. Graduate student Taylor Muff scored 13 points with nine rebounds, two assists and one steal. Freshman Edinburg alum A'nnika Saenz nailed four three-pointers for 12 points. Freshman Arianna Sturdivant also scored 12 points. Freshman Brooke Jensen scored seven points with nine rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Jena' Williams finished with a game-high five steals to go with six assists, three points and three rebounds.
 
Keiarra Rivers led the Crusaders with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals.
 
Llorente made four baskets and dished out assists on two baskets as the Vaqueros jumped out to a 12-2 lead.
 
Midway through the first quarter, with the score 15-6, sophomore Halie Jones made a layup to spark a 16-2 run to make the score 31-10.
 
The Crusaders scored the final two points of the first quarter and first two of the second, but the Vaqueros didn't allow the Crusaders to score for the final 9:30 of the quarter, going on a 17-0 run that was capped by a Saenz three-pointer to make the score 48-12.
 
Llorente then opened the third quarter with a layup and a three to extend the run to 22-0, make the score 53-12, and push the game out of reach.
 
UTRGV opens the regular season on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at No. 21 South Florida in game that will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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