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For
Immediate Release: January 19, 2002 EDINBURG, TX-The University of
Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team made the plays when they
needed them Saturday night. The result was a 71-63 victory
against Gardner-Webb that broke the Lady Broncs’ three-game losing
streak. UTPA got a pair of
three-pointers from junior guard Michelle Smith (Vancouver, BC/heritage
Park HS) in outscoring the Lady Bulldogs, 12-2 during a span of six
minutes and ten seconds late in the first half to take a 36-29 halftime
lead. Gardner-Webb came back in the second half, scoring 10 of the first
13 points to create a 39-all tie with 16:03 to play. Freshman guard Anette Johansen
(Oslo, Norway/Foss Videregaaende HS) launched a three-pointer than gave
UTPA the lead for good. Senior forward Kelli Kreuser (Bettendorf,
IA/North Davenport HS/Truman State) added a pair of free throws, and
Smith connected from three-point range as the Lady Broncs scored eight
points in a row during a four-minute period. Another trey by Smith
helped UTPA build a 10-point lead, 64-54 with 3:40 remaining. Kreuser
made five of six free throws and senior forward Radiajah Sinnette
(Houston, TX/Madison HS) added a pair as UTPA held off a late
Gardner-Webb rally. “I was pleased that we were
able to get a win,” said UTPA Head Coach Karin Nicholls. “We showed
more consistency than we had showed the last couple of games. We did a
good job of shooting against their zone, and we worked hard for the win.
I thought we gave up a few too many offensive rebounds, and we committed
a few too many fouls, but a win is a win, and I’m glad that we were
able to get it.” Kreuser led all scorers with 22
points, while adding 10 assists. Junior forward Naima Williams (Houston,
TX/Clear Brook HS) had 16 points, as did Smith. Kreuser and Smith each
had seven rebounds, but the Lady Broncs were outrebounded, 41-35. Maggie Tomporek, Casey Collins
and Katie Gravel each had 13 points to lead GWU, while Chrissy Guzman
added 12. With the victory, the Lady
Broncs improved to 5-15. GWU dropped to 3-14. UTPA will return to action
when they host Lipscomb Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. WBBGARDNERWEBB1011902 |