CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by relentless pressure and offensive inefficiency, the Texas-Rio Grande Valley women’s basketball team grinded out a 61-49 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday night at American Bank Center.

The Vaqueros, who swept the season series from their Southland Conference and regional rival, improved to 10-9 overall. The Islanders fell to 3-14.

The most decisive stretch of the game came in the third quarter, where Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s offense completely stalled. After trailing 28-31 at halftime, the Islanders managed just seven points in the period on 3-of-13 shooting. They committed five turnovers and recorded zero assists, allowing the Vaqueros to seize control despite their own shooting woes. Texas-Rio Grande Valley outscored the Islanders 12-7 in the quarter to build a 40-38 lead entering the final period.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley then put the game away with a strong fourth quarter, scoring 21 points. The Vaqueros’ defense remained the constant, forcing 17 total Islanders turnovers and converting them into 19 points. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s ball movement was stifled all night, finishing with only three assists as a team.

Erin Maguire, a guard from Belfast, Ireland, led the Vaqueros with 15 points, three assists and three steals in 40 minutes. Chazlyn Dettor of Killeen added 16 points, while Jalayah Ingram of Pearland contributed 15 points, three assists and three steals. Charlotte O’Keefe of Overland Park, Kansas, anchored the interior with eight points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

The Islanders were led by K’Nari Holliday of Apopka, Florida, who scored 13 points. Chelsea Wooten of McKinney tallied 11 points and a game-high eight assists, and Rayna Williams of The Colony added 11 points.

Both teams struggled to find any offensive rhythm. Texas-Rio Grande Valley shot just 33.9% from the field, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was marginally better at 35.8%. The difference came at the free-throw line and on the glass. The Vaqueros attempted 19 free throws, making 14, compared to the Islanders’ 5-of-8 performance. Texas-Rio Grande Valley also dominated the offensive boards, grabbing 15 rebounds which led to 12 second-chance points.

The game began with the Islanders taking an early lead, finishing the first quarter up 18-17 behind eight points from Holliday. The teams traded baskets in a sloppy second quarter, with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi maintaining a narrow three-point advantage at the break. The third-quarter collapse, however, proved insurmountable for the home team.

The Vaqueros’ defensive effort was comprehensive, registering 13 steals and four blocks. Their offensive rating of 93.8 points per 100 possessions, while not stellar, far outpaced the Islanders’ anemic 78.0 rating.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley, which entered the game with a 55.90 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, has now won three of its last four conference games. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has lost two straight.

The announced attendance at the American Bank Center was 877.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley travels to face Houston Christian on Saturday. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi visits Incarnate Word, also on Saturday.