Panthers put down Vaqueros in final seconds

The Vaqueros fell 65-64 to the Florida International University Panthers after taking a two-point lead in the last six seconds of their home opener tonight in the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

The women’s basketball team record now stands at 0-2 overall, while the Panthers are 2-0.

“We got at least seven more before we get to conference, so we got to keep improving,” UTRGV head coach Lane Lord said. “We know we can play with anybody and once we get a few more reinforcements, I think we got a chance to be really good.”

UTRGV started strong, taking a 9-0 lead. The Vaqueros managed to maintain the score until six-and-a-half minutes later as senior forward Ajae Yoakum put FIU on the board with a 3-pointer.

Yoakum led the Panthers with 13 points and six rebounds.

The first quarter concluded with a six-point lead in favor of the Vaqueros at 15-9.

After closing in on the Vaqueros by two points halfway into the second quarter, the Panthers took their first lead of the game, 24-23, with two minutes left before the half.

Vaquero junior guard Iyana Dorsey retaliated against the slimming score gap with a successful floating-jump shot, and one, in the last three seconds of the first half. Dorsey banked her free throw, giving the Vaqueros the opportunity to tie at 28 to close the half.

Dorsey led UTRGV with 18 points and four assists against Florida International University.

The third quarter ended in a one-point difference at 49-48 after Panther sophomore forward Mya Kone cashed in a free throw.

As Vaquero junior guard Tierra Trotter dribbled up the court in the fourth, she lost the ball to reactive Panther junior guard Tanajah Hayes.

Trotter suffered an injury after tripping with Hayes. The Vaquero guard was out for the remainder of the game.

She finished the game with a career-high performance of 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

The two teams dueled to the finish in the final quarter.

With 3:48 left in the game, Dorsey brought the score to 59-55, but the Panthers were quick to reduce the deficit.

Kone put away two free throws to close in on the Vaqueros, bringing the Panthers within two.

She then followed up with a layup to tie the game at 59.

A jumper by Dorsey gave the Vaqueros a 61-59 lead. Graduate guard Olivia Trice responded with a layup to tie the game.

With the Panthers leading by one, Dorsey found junior guard Arianna Sturdivant, allowing her to lay up the ball to take the lead.

Panther senior forward Maria Torres sealed the game for FIU in the last two seconds with a layup. 

“This isn’t the first time Maria Torres has won a game for us,” FIU head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley said. “She is the epitome, right now for us, of a veteran. You know, I know what I am going to get from her all the time. I know how bad she wants this, and I know she knows the growth she’s made to get to this point. So, anytime I know I get a chance to put her in that situation, I know it’s always going to be [the] best-case scenario for us.”

Panthers Kone, Trice and graduate student forward Courtney Prenger all finished with 10 points.

The Vaqueros will play their next game away against the Texas State University Bobcats at 5 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Strahan Arena in San Marcos.