EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive struggles and a decisive third-quarter swing, the Texas-Rio Grande Valley women’s basketball team held off a persistent Texas A&M-Commerce squad for a 71-64 victory in a Southland Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at UT Pan Am Field House.

The Vaqueros, led by a dominant performance from Jalayah Ingram, improved to 18-12 overall. The Lions fell to 13-14 despite a strong outing from Rezia Castillo.

The most critical phase of the contest arrived in the third quarter. Texas A&M-Commerce, which had led 23-20 after a high-scoring first quarter and trailed 38-36 at halftime, saw its offensive execution falter completely after the break. The Lions managed just two field goals in the period’s first seven minutes, a drought that allowed UTRGV to seize control.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley capitalized with a 13-4 run to open the second half, turning a narrow two-point edge into a 51-40 lead. The Vaqueros’ defense tightened, forcing difficult shots and capitalizing on Commerce’s stagnant offense. While the Lions would chip away in the fourth quarter, they never recovered from that pivotal stretch, getting no closer than five points down the stretch.

Ingram was the engine for the Vaqueros, scoring a game-high 22 points in just 28 minutes. She was efficient from the floor and aggressive in drawing fouls, adding four assists. Charlotte O’Keefe provided a crucial all-around effort, playing the entire 40 minutes and finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Erin Maguire also played the full 40, contributing 14 points, while Chazlyn Dettor added 15 points off the bench.

For Texas A&M-Commerce, Castillo, a 5-foot-7 guard from Houston, led the way with 17 points, two assists and a block. Reza Po added 16 points and Ahmya Boyce scored 13. The Lions’ offense, however, was undermined by poor shooting and a lack of ball movement. They shot just 33.9% from the field and recorded only four assists as a team against seven turnovers.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley was only marginally better from the floor at 44.6%, but its advantages at the free-throw line and on the glass proved decisive. The Vaqueros made 17 of 22 free throws compared to Commerce’s 15 of 19, and outrebounded the Lions 11-9 on the offensive glass, leading to key second-chance opportunities.

The game began at a brisk pace, with Commerce connecting on three first-quarter three-pointers to build a small lead. The teams traded baskets through a tightly contested second period, setting the stage for the third-quarter separation. Commerce’s final push in the fourth was consistently answered, often by Ingram or Dettor, to secure the home victory.

The win completed a regular-season sweep for Texas-Rio Grande Valley, which had defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 60-55 in Commerce on Jan. 10. The Vaqueros will look to build momentum when they host Incarnate Word on Monday. The Lions continue their road trip at Nicholls State on Tuesday.

An announced crowd of 1,509 watched the contest.