Women’s Basketball Opens The Season With Solid Win Over UTRGV

HOUSTON – The Texas Southern women’s basketball team returned to the court for the first time in eight months and 26 days and picked up where it left off as they opened the 2020-21 campaign with an 85-64 win over UTRGV Saturday afternoon inside the H&PE Arena.

 As one would assume, TSU took some time to get into game mode as UTRGV jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Junior guard Tamaria White scored the first points of the 2020-21 season with a three-pointer and newcomer Jenay Bojorquez tied the game with a free throw. After missing the back end of her free throw attempts, Bojorquez found a slashing Niya Mitchell for a basket and moved TSU ahead 6-4 at the 6:04 mark. UTRGV would tie the contest at 6-all after Halie Jones’ free throw but the TSU fans have become accustomed to watching over the past several years slowly began to emerge.

TSU went on a 13-3 run over the next 4:21 with a balanced effort as Quatera Limbrick led the way with five points during her TSU debut. TSU shot 50 percent from the field and held UTRGV to only one field goal during that span. UTRGV’s Jena’ Williams scored a layup at the buzzer as TSU finished the quarter ahead 19-10.

The Tigers led by as much as 13 on two occasions to open the second quarter but UTRGV roared back with a 12-3 run to close within 32-30 with 3:04 remaining. Once again, Tamaria White came up big when needed as her offensive rebound set up Ataiya Bridges’ three-pointer which gave TSU a 35-30 margin. TSU closed out the half on a 7-0 run for a 39-30 halftime lead.

TSU kept its foot on the pedal to open the third quarter and outscored UTRGV 22-12. They forced eight UTRGV turnovers and hit eight shots to secure control of the game as the closest UTRGV would come was 14 points late in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell opened the year with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds along with three steals and a block. Bridges added 24 points, three steals and three assists while Limbrick scored 10 points. White had a solid game at point guard as she dished out a team-high seven assists.

TSU is back in action Friday afternoon at Rice University for a 2 p.m. tip-off.