The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced a Tier I member of the women’s basketball team has tested positive for COVID-19 according to a news release Thursday morning.
The team will pause competition for the next seven days in accordance with NCAA and WAC COVID-19 protocols.
The Vaqueros scheduled game against the Lancers of California Baptist University at 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse was canceled.
A Tier I member, according to the NCAA, consists of student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and officials.
The Vaqueros now have had 10 of their 13 scheduled games in the month of January cancelled due to COVID-19 related reasons against Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s and doubleheaders versus Western Athletic Conference opponents Chicago State, Dixie State and New Mexico State.
This news comes less than 24-hours after the Vaqueros’ Wednesday non-conference loss, 79-63, versus the Tarleton State.
As of Thursday, the Texans have not reported a positive test of COVID-19 within the program.
UTRGV Head Coach Lane Lord also announced that junior center Burcu Soysal exited Wednesday’s game at the 1:26 mark in the first quarter with a foot injury.
Soysal has missed six of the team’s nine games with a foot injury suffered in the season opener at Texas Tech but it is unclear if both injuries are related.
The next scheduled game for UTRGV is a conference doeubleheader at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 and 6 against Grand Canyon University at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
For more updates and highlights, visit GoUTRGV.com.
For Vaquero Radio, I’m Luis Rubio.
