The Southern Utah University women’s basketball team left Edinburg with a 68-65 win in overtime against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, Feb. 3. With the win, Southern Utah improves to 6-14 overall and 4-7 in the Western Athletic Conference, while UTRGV falls to 4-16 overall and 3-8 in conference play.
First quarter
It was evenly matched throughout the first five minutes of play, the Vaqueros leading 10-9 due to five points behind Arianna Strudivant. Over the next four minutes, Southern Utah went on a 11-3 run behind a pair of threes from Samantha Johnston and a three-pointer from Daylani Ballena. SUU led 20-15 despite a half-court buzzer-beater from Vaquero Tierra Trotter.
Second quarter
The Thunderbirds continued to play well, especially on defense, holding the Vaqueros to shoot just 25% from both the field and from three. Southern Utah stretched their lead to 10 points with four minutes left and led 37-29 at halftime.
Third quarter
UTRGV went on a 16-5 run over the first seven minutes of play behind Trotter’s and Kade Hackerott’s five points each. Southern Utah responded with a 7-0 run to lead 49-45.
Fourth quarter
It was tightly contested with both teams trading buckets. After a pair of free throws from Johnston, SUU led 61-57 with just over a minute left. Trotter cut the lead to one after a three-point play, and Hackerott gave UTRGV the lead with 16 seconds left off a pair of free throws. With a chance to respond, Ballena drove baseline and was fouled with five seconds left, sending her to the line with an opportunity to either tie or take the lead. After missing the first shot, Ballena made the second free throw to tie the game at 62. UTRGV missed a shot at the buzzer and sent the game into overtime.
Overtime
Points came at a premium in overtime with neither team being able to separate themselves from one another. Ballena gave SUU a one-point lead with just under two minutes left after going 1/2 from the free-throw line. The Thunderbirds had a pair of key stops, and with 20 seconds left, they controlled possession with a chance to close the game out. Ballena missed a deep three with eight seconds remaining, but Johnston grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. After making both free throws, UTRGV had a chance to tie, but Charlotte O’Keefe missed a three at the buzzer.
“Road wins are tough, and I’m just really proud of our effort,” said Thunderbird head coach Tracy Mason. “They came together as a group, and we had a lot of people make some huge plays on offense and defense.”
Key statistics
— Johnston had a season-high 18 points.
— Trotter led all scorers with 20 points.
— Alexa Lord had her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds for SUU.
— SUU improves to 6-0 all-time against UTRGV.
What’s next?
Southern Utah will be back home against in-state rival Utah Tech University on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the American First Event Center. This game can be streamed on ESPN+.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
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