For Immediate Release: November 2, 2001
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

HOUSTON JAGUARS DEFEAT LADY BRONCS IN EXHIBITION GAME

LaCharlotte Smith scored 16 points and Tracey Boygere added 14 as the Houston Jaguars scored the first eight points of the second half,  erased a six-point UTPA halftime advantage, and defeated the Lady Broncs, 76-63 at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

The Jaguars used a 12-2 run at the start of the second half to take a 42-38 lead with 14:55 remaining. They then stretched their advantage to 10, 48-38, before the Lady Broncs rallied. A pair of free throws by junior Naima Williams (Houston, Texas/Clear Brook HS) and junior Michelle Smith’s (Vancouver, BC/Heritage Park HS) three-pointer allowed UTPA to reduce the lead to five points, 48-43, with 11:23 remaining. But the Jaguars built their lead back up to 13 points and held off the Lady Broncs down the stretch.

Senior Kelli Kreuser (Bettendorf, IA/Davenport North/Truman State) made her Lady Bronc debut, scoring nine points in the first half and topping UTPA with 16 points. made her Lady Bronc debut with 16 points, while Smith added 10. Senior Radiajah Sinnette (Houston, TX/Madison HS) had 11 rebounds, while junior Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley CC) added 10.

“I saw some bits and pieces that I liked, but we haven’t put the total package together yet,” said UTPA Head Coach Karin Nicholls. “We got a ten point lead in the first half and then we relaxed, and you can’t do that against a good team. Hopefully, we will learn from this, and use this game to improve.”

The Lady Broncs will open their season when they host Arkansas-Little Rock in the first game of the Lady Bronc Classic Friday, November 16th..

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