UTRGV women’s basketball players, staff and families traveled to Puerto Rico for basketball, bonding and beaches right before the start of the Fall 2023 semester.
The Vaqueros traveled to Puerto Rico from Aug. 7 through 11 to play two exhibition games and participate in a basketball youth clinic. The team used the international trip to get extra full practices in the summer, Head Coach Lane Lord said.
Junior guard Iyana Dorsey tallied double digits during the first exhibition game against the Hatillo Ganaderas. Dorsey talks about what fueled her gameplay.
“I would just say playing with a new team,” she said. “I think we got a really good team. They know how to look for the open person. I think playing on this team allows me to get more shots in. As long as I keep focusing on trying to get the other team stopped on defense, that’s where my offense is coming from.”
Incoming freshman point guard Ja’shelle Johnson was able to gain minutes with the team. Johnson discusses the expectations she had for herself and finding her role.
“My expectations are to kind of find my role for the team,” she said. “So, I know that we have shooters. We already have people who play the post, [so I] just kind of [come] in as a point guard just to be able to find team in other spots.”
Although basketball was the main topic for the ladies, the trip allowed a team-bonding experience for the team and families. Lord spoke about the bonding experience.
“It was really a good team bonding trip for us, not just that we had eight or nine family members come, too,” the head coach said. “So, it was neat to see even the parents get to bond together.”
As part of the team’s bonding, the Vaqueros were able to visit the beach and participate in different activities. Johnson recaps on her favorite parts of the trip.
“My favorite part was, we didn’t really spend much time at the beach, but I loved the beach and when we went ziplining I had a lot of fun,” she said.
Looking forward to this upcoming season, the ladies will be up and running against the Florida International University Panthers at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
