The luck of the three - The Rider Newspaper

UTRGV freshman guard Sara Bershers dribbles the ball past California State University, Bakersfield players sophomores guard Jasmin Dixon (left) and point guard Ashely Austin. AALIYAH GARZA/THE RIDER PHOTOS

The UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team triumphed against California State University, Bakersfield 74-65 Thursday at home which included an impressive 27-point performance from junior guard Trelynn Tyler.

“[Head Coach Lane Lord] was … telling me just to be the player I can be,” Tyler said.

She said Lord’s encouragement gave her confidence.

“He was telling me nobody can really stop me, which is honestly true,” Tyler said. “Like, if I really feel like I can take somebody, I really can ’cause of my athleticism, but I feel like my teammates being threats on the outside, too, really opened it up more for me on the inside.”

In the first half of the game, CSU dominated with a lead of eight points at the end of the second quarter.

However, UTRGV turned its luck during the third quarter as they shot 50% from the three-point line.

UTRGV junior guard Valeria Tapia attempts to block CSU player freshman point guard Lexus Green from shooting during Thursday’s game in the Fieldhouse in Edinburg.

“Coming out of halftime, I just knew, you know, we needed to pick it up,” redshirt junior guard Amara Graham said when asked about the mindset of the team coming in after the first half.

“We had to go on a run and get up in order for us to win that game,” Graham said. “And I think that’s exactly what we did tonight. We came out and usually [the] third quarter isn’t our, you know, good quarter for us but these last two games it really has been.”

In the fourth quarter, the Vaqueros continued the momentum as they held the lead all the way until the clock hit zero.

However, it was not the best night for redshirt sophomore guard Ashlei Lopez, who suffered a non-contact injury in the paint. The team finished the game strong as three continued to be the lucky number of the night.

“I think that, again, it goes back to that dribble penetration, then getting kickouts,” Lord said. “And all our guards did a good job finding shooters, but, you’re right, you think about Amara Graham’s big three when they cut it to one and then Val Tapia hits a big three.”

The women’s team is now 7-7 in the Western Athletic Conference and are on a two-game winning streak.

UTRGV will return to the court when it faces off against Grand Canyon University at noon Saturday in the Fieldhouse in Edinburg.