BOILING SPRINGS, NC- The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team left little doubt about things in their final road game of the 2001-2002 season at the Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center here Saturday night.

The Lady Broncs led virtually all the way in defeating the Lady Bulldogs, 69-61, sweeping the season’s series between the teams.

UTPA built a 10-point lead with 3:20 to play in the first half, and led at halftime, 35-30. GWU rallied, tying the game at 36-all with 15:49 remaining,  However, the Lady Broncs responded with an 11-3 run to take command.

Freshman guard Anette Johansen (Oslo, Norway/Foss Videregaaende HS) began the run with a three-pointer. Freshman guard Nikki Hitchens (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado HS) followed with a jump shot, junior guard Michelle Smith (Vancouver, BC/Heritage Park HS) connected on a three-pointer, and senior forward Kelli Kreuser (Bettendorf, IA/N. Davenport HS/Truman State University) capped the run with a layup and a free throw.

GWU cut it to four points, 63-59, with 3:11 remaining. But Williams, junior center Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC), Smith and Kreuser combined to connect on six free throws in the final 43 seconds to preserve the lead.

“I’m ecstatic,” said UTPA Head Coach Karin Nicholls. “We needed that win, and it was a tough game, and we really earned it. Kelli had a big game, Nikki stepped up real well, and we got a few points from everyone. We did a good job defensively, and it was good to break our losing streak.”

Kreuser led the Lady Broncs for the fourth game in a row, scoring 24 points and adding eight rebounds, five steals and three assists. Hitchens added 14 points, and Johansen had nine. UTPA lost the battle of the boards, but used 17 steals to force 33 turnovers.

Casey Collins led Gardner-Webb with 23 points.

The Lady Broncs improved to 7-20 and broke a three-game losing streak, Gardner-Webb fell to 3-23. UTPA will return home for their final game of the season when they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi next Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. It will be Senior Night, and seniors Kreuser and Radiajah Sinnette (Houston, TX/Madison HS) will be honored prior to the game.

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