HCU Huskies falls at home to UTRGV 65-53

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 24, 2026) The HCU Huskies women’s basketball team fought hard but dropped a 65–53 decision to the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros on Saturday at Sharp Gym in Houston. The Huskies stayed close early, but UTRGV pulled away in the second half to secure the win.

HCU started the game with energy. Early in the first quarter, Madison Hurta and Grace Booth both hit three-pointers that helped the Huskies keep the score tight. HCU led at times and stayed close through the first quarter, ending it 13–12.

In the second quarter, HCU continued to score with baskets from Dasia Hyams and Kamryn McLaurin. But the Vaqueros answered with strong shooting from the outside and second-chance points. A big 11–2 run by UTRGV gave them a 32–27 lead at halftime.

UTRGV took control in the third quarter behind strong plays inside the paint. HCU tried to stay close, with Booth and Hurta scoring, but the Vaqueros kept their lead, going into the fourth quarter up 50–42.

In the final quarter, UTRGV hit back-to-back three-pointers that stretched the lead to double digits. Hurta and Jordan Jackson hit shots for HCU, but the Huskies could not cut the gap enough to win.

Booth and Hurta finished as HCU’s top scorers with 11 points each. Tove Caesar added eight and McLaurin scored seven off the bench. Hyams had six points and four rebounds.

HCU will travel to Edinburg to face the Vaqueros again on Thursday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m. in a key Southland Conference rematch.