Members of the UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team take free-throw shots after practice Tuesday at the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. Sebastián Espino / Vaquero Radio
As UTRGV basketball gears up for the new season, the men’s and women’s teams are focused on building momentum and proving they can compete with the best in the conference.
Sophomore guard Gianna Angiolet said she is focused on giving her all this season. Angiolet added with this being the team’s second year in the Southland Conference, she’s confident she and her teammates will work as hard as they can to compete for a championship.
“Collectivley as a team, we definitely want to get a Southland championship … and I think both of those goals are completely attainable,” Angiolet said.
Women’s basketball head coach Lane Lord said he is excited for this upcoming season.
Lord said he definitely has a strong team this year.
He added he not only wants to win on the court but also in the stands with all the UTRGV fans showing their support.
“So, we want to get that same atmosphere here at home [today] and [Friday],” Lord said last Tuesday. “Our same energy that our student body is brought to football, if we can get that in basketball, it is gonna be so awesome. That is what we are focusing on.”
Men’s basketball head coach Kahil Fennell said he is excited for the upcoming season. Last year’s season had some challenges but also good moments, Fennell said.
Fennell said the team has been working with the new players for a couple months and it is ready to start.
“Yeah, I think it is just to be the best version of ourselves,” he said. “We gonna be challenged. It is an incredibly difficult conference slate. But I think we have the team.”
Redshirt junior Always Wright said he is excited to start the journey and help the team as much as he can. Asked what he expects for the season, Wright replied he wants “everything.”
“Man a ring. I want conference and, hopefully, getting deep into NCAA tournament time, just having a lot of time to win and just playing well,” Wright said.
The Vaqueros will start off the basketball season today. The women’s basketball team will play against St.Marys at the Edinburg Fieldhouse and the men’s will face Baylor in Waco.
For more information on schedules and games, visit goutrgv.com.
