UTRGV takes season opener 64-46 - The Rider Newspaper

Ingram shines in debut, O’Keefe double-doubles again and Lord makes program history

Vaqueros Charlotte O’Keefe (from left), senior forward, and Kayla Lorenz, sophomore guard, block St. Mary’s University Christin Callens, sophomore forward during Monday’s game in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. The Vaqueros won 64-46.
Draya Rios/THE RIDER

Opening a season with a big win can certainly give a momentum boost to a team, and the Vaqueros women’s basketball squad did just that on Monday, beating St. Mary’s University at the Fieldhouse to open the year 1-0.

The Rattlers started off the game hot, building a quick 8-2 lead. Ingram’s efforts brought the Vaqueros right back into it, with an assist and 2 buckets weaving through traffic to tie the game at 10.

UTRGV, then, took a 13-12 lead on a 3 by freshman forward Rylie Whitehair, which was erased by a floater from Rattlers sophomore forward Christin Callens. The first quarter ended with a 14-13 St. Mary’s lead.

After trading buckets to open the second quarter, the Vaqueros, then, took the lead, going on a 10-0 run, sparked by a pair of post hooks by senior forward Charlotte O’Keefe. The first half ended with UTRGV in front 30-23.

Freshman forward Rylie Whitehair jumps to catch the ball from Rattlers senior forward Sian Phipps during Monday’s game in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. Also shown is Vaqueros junior guard Erin Maguire.
Draya Rios/THE RIDER

With both teams trading buckets again, the Rattlers were down 36-27 halfway through the third. St. Mary’s began working the paint and chipping away with free throws, but UTRGV responded to finish the quarter up 47-33.

Taking this lead, the Vaqueros never let up as they only allowed St. Mary’s to score 16 in the fourth quarter as they cruised to a 64-46 season-opening victory.

O’Keefe did O’Keefe things, beginning the season with another double-double after averaging that in the score sheet as one of the nation’s top rebounders (12 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists).

Head coach Lane Lord captured his 86th win at UTRGV and, with that, he stands alone as the winningest head coach in the history of the Vaqueros’ women’s basketball program.

Junior guard Erin Maguire moves to block the ball from St. Mary’s University junior guard Andrea Montesinos during Monday’s game in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. The Vaqueros won 64-46.
Draya Rios/THE RIDER

Speaking with the media following the win, Lord said he was “very fortunate” to have been at the helm for the last eight seasons and “watch this university grow,” though he quickly shifted to talking about the game’s result.

“As far as women’s basketball goes, we’ve got some pretty lofty goals this year,” he said. “Tonight was a little sloppy, but we’ll get better. I think everybody can see the upgrade we had at the guard position.”

The upgrade Lord refers to is in the additions of juniors Jalayah “Bunny” Ingram and Erin Maguire. Ingram led the team with 14 points and tied with 5 assists in her Vaqueros debut.

“I felt good coming out [on the court],” Ingram said. “Our momentum was really great, [and Lord] is such a good coach.”

UTRGV will play again this week, taking on Arlington Baptist University at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus.