EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle that came down to the final possession, the Houston Cougars escaped the UT Pan Am Field House with a narrow 65-63 victory over the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros in a non-conference women’s basketball game Thursday night.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 1,447, was a tale of two halves. Houston built a commanding 14-point lead by halftime, only to see it evaporate under a determined second-half comeback by the home team, setting up a frantic final minute.

Houston’s offense was firing on all cylinders in the first half, scoring 22 points in each of the first two quarters to take a 44-30 lead into the break. The Cougars shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on Vaquero mistakes, scoring 20 points off 17 UTRGV turnovers in the game.

The second half, however, was a different story. The Houston offense went cold, managing just 21 points total after halftime. They scored only 12 in the third quarter and a mere nine in the fourth, allowing UTRGV to steadily chip away at the deficit.

UTRGV’s comeback was fueled by a dominant performance in the paint, where they outscored Houston 40-34, and a significant advantage on the offensive glass, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds to Houston’s 11. The Vaqueros outscored the Cougars 33-21 in the second half, turning what looked like a potential blowout into a nail-biter.

The game was ultimately decided in the final seconds. With UTRGV holding a 63-61 lead and under a minute to play, Houston’s Jade Jones drove to the basket and converted a crucial layup to tie the game. On the ensuing possession, the Cougar defense forced a missed shot and secured the rebound. After a timeout, Jones struck again, hitting the game-winning layup with just seconds remaining to seal the 65-63 victory for Houston.

Jones, a 5-foot-10 guard from Royal Palm Beach, Florida, led all scorers with 18 points for the Cougars. She was supported by backcourt mates Kyndall Hunter and Briana Peguero, who each added 12 points. Hunter, from Houston, also contributed two assists.

UTRGV was led by a stellar performance from Charlotte O’Keefe. The 6-foot-3 center from Overland Park, Kansas, played the entire 40 minutes, recording a double-double with 20 points and showcasing a strong defensive presence. Jalayah Ingram, a 5-foot-9 guard from Pearland, Texas, was also instrumental for the Vaqueros, scoring 16 points and dishing out four assists. Erin Maguire rounded out the double-figure scorers for UTRGV with 10 points.

Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Both teams finished with identical totals in assists (6) and steals (6). Houston held a slight edge in field goal percentage, shooting 42.2 percent on 27-of-64 shooting, while UTRGV shot 40 percent on 24-of-60 from the floor. The three-point line proved to be a key differentiator, with Houston making seven from beyond the arc compared to UTRGV’s three.

The victory improves Houston’s record to 3-2 on the young season, while UTRGV falls to an identical 3-2 mark. Both teams will return to action on Sunday. Houston will host High Point, while Texas-Rio Grande Valley travels to face Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.