STEPHENVILLE – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's basketball team survived a second half surge by the Tarleton Texans and picked up the 64-58 victory on Saturday at the Wisdom Gym. 
 
Sophomore Sara Bershers led the way for the Vaqueros (8-12, 4-4 WAC) as she scored 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting while also grabbing six rebounds. Graduate student Taylor Muff scored 11 points with seven rebounds and freshman KaCee Kyle added 10 points with three rebounds and three assists. 
 
The Texans (12-9, 4-6 WAC) were led by Nya Mitchels who scored 13 points with four rebounds. Jenna Dick added 11 points and four assists while Malaya Kendrick chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds. 
 
The Vaqueros came out with a purpose and jumped out to an 8-0 lead after a couple of three-pointers from Bershers and a layup from Kyle before the Texans answered with a 7-0 run of their own. 
 
Bershers converted on a fast break layup and the Vaqueros got a layup from graduate student Iva Belosevic followed by a three-pointer from sophomore Tiffany McGarity to take the 15-9 lead after the first. 
 
Bershers gave the Vaqueros their biggest lead of the first half with another jumper that made it 20-11 before the Texans put together an 8-0 run to get within 20-19 with 1:59 left in the half. Bershers followed with a jumper and McGarity converted a layup as the Vaqueros went into the half leading 24-21. 
 
The Vaqueros and Texans exchanged baskets to open the second half before a three-pointer by Dick gave the Texans their first lead of the game at 34-32. Later in the third, the Vaqueros went to work in the paint as they scored four-straight baskets on layups including back-to-back by sophomore Maria Llorente giving the Vaqueros the 42-37 lead. 
 
In the fourth, the Texans regained the lead on back-to-back three-pointers from Jurnee President and Dick making it 46-45. Muff answered with back-to-back layups to give the Vaqueros the 49-46 lead before a three-pointer by Jackson tied it.
 
The Vaqueros answered with a 14-9 run to take the lead for good in the final five minutes of the game including a clutch three-pointer by Muff with 52 seconds left. 
 
The Vaqueros will be back in action on Monday when they visit the New Mexico State Aggies at 1 p.m. at the Pan American Center.

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