The UTRGV women’s basketball team fell 82-60 to No. 22 North Dakota State in their first game of the Malibu Classic Wednesday at Firestone Fieldhouse. The loss marks a tough start for the Vaqueros (4-6, 1-1 Southland Conference) in the early-season tournament hosted by Pepperdine.
Junior guard Jalayah Ingram led the Vaqueros with 22 points, marking her second straight 20-point game. She also shot 10-of-12 from the free throw line. Redshirt junior guard Erin Maguire added 13 points, including two three-pointers, and recorded a career-high four steals.
For North Dakota State (10-2, 0-0 Summit League), three players scored in double figures. Karrington Asp had a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Marisa Frost contributed 14 points and three steals, while Avery Koenen added 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
The game began with a tight first quarter, as both teams exchanged baskets. Freshman forward Chazlyn Dettor and Maguire hit early three-pointers to give UTRGV a narrow 8-7 lead. Junior forward Ivy Brown responded with back-to-back layups, including a three-point play, tying the game at 13-13. However, NDSU ended the quarter on a 4-0 run, taking a 17-13 lead.
In the second quarter, Ingram drove for two layups, and Maguire’s steal led to a three-pointer from junior guard Madison Huhn, bringing the Vaqueros within one at 21-20. NDSU then used two 6-0 scoring runs and dominated the boards to gain control. The Bison outrebounded UTRGV 27-14 in the first half, taking a 42-28 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw NDSU extend its lead further. UTRGV opened strong with a deep shot from sophomore guard Kayla Lorenz and a jumper from Ingram, cutting the gap to 10 points. However, the Bison closed the quarter on a 10-0 run, creating a 65-45 advantage heading into the fourth.
UTRGV continued to fight in the final period. Ingram and Maguire attacked the basket aggressively, while freshman forward Elise Horne contributed minutes and matched NDSU’s physical play. Despite the effort, the Bison’s size and rebounding advantage kept them in control for the remainder of the game.
The Vaqueros are set to play their third game in four days, facing the South Dakota Coyotes Thursday at 6 p.m. (CT) back at Firestone Fieldhouse. This matchup will be another opportunity for UTRGV to rebound in the early-season tournament.
