RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team won their third-straight game by beating the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders as part of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Navy Army Community Credit Union, 52-43 on Tuesday at Bert Ogden Arena.
 
Freshman KaCee Kyle led the Vaqueros (4-5) with a career-high 14 points while hitting a career-high four three-pointers to go with two assists and a career-high three steals. Sophomore Sara Bershers scored 11 points with 12 rebounds, two steals and a season-high tying three blocks. Junior Jessica Martino scored eight points with three rebounds. Sophomore Jena' Williams scored seven points with five assists. Graduate student Taylor Muff scored six points with three rebounds.
 
Alecia Westbrook led the Islanders (4-5) with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Makinna Serrata scored 11 points with nine rebounds and three assists. Paige Allen scored a team-high 12 points.
 
The Vaqueros jumped out to a 4-2 lead on layups by Williams and Muff. The Islanders scored the next 10 points to go up 12-4 before Kyle hit back-to-back threes to bring the Vaqueros within 12-10.
 
The Islanders pushed their lead to 16-10 early in the second quarter. Muff followed with a layup to spark a 13-0 run to put the Vaqueros up 23-16.
 
The Islanders scored the next six points, but a Bershers three put the Vaqueros up 26-22 at halftime.
 
The Vaqueros extended their lead to 28-22 on a Muff jumper at the start of the third quarter and 32-25 on a Williams layup three minutes later.
 
The Islanders pulled to within 32-30 before Martino scored six points during an 8-2 run to put the Vaqueros up 41-32 at the end of the third quarter.
 
The Vaqueros pushed their lead to double-figures at 44-34 on a Kyle three early in the fourth quarter. The Islanders responded with a 7-2 run before a Bershers jumper put the Vaqueros up 48-41 to cement the Vaqueros' advantage.
 
The Vaqueros open the UTRGV South Padre Island Classic on Friday at 6 p.m. against UTSA. Grand Canyon faces Liberty at 3 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. Doors open at 2 p.m. Those unable to attend the game in person can watch in the United States on ESPN+ or internationally on the WAC Digital Network.

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