For Immediate Release: November 21, 2001

Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS DEFEAT UTEP, 74-59

EL PASO, TX–The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball didn’t let a road trip stop them from winning for the first time this season.

The Lady Broncs outscored host Texas-El Paso in the second half, 41-32 and defeated the Lady Miners, 74-59 at the Don Haskins Center Wednesday night.

Junior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) led the way for the Lady Broncs, making 11 of 19 shots from the field and leading all scorers with 25 points. She also grabbed 13 rebounds, leading everyone on the glass as UTPA won the battle of the boards, 59-42.

Junior guard Michelle Smith (Vancouver, BC/heritage Park HS) also made her presence felt. Smith was six for 11 from the field, including four of five from three-point range, for 16 points. Junior center Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) added 10 points and five rebounds, as the Lady Broncs made 43.3 per cent of their shots from the field, while limiting the Lady Miners to just 26.2 per cent in their best defensive performance of the young season.

Katie Pyle led UTEP with 14 points, Kimya Murray added 13, and Nicki Mosher added 11.

“I was very happy to get a victory,” said UTPA Head Coach Karin Nicholls. “We executed our offense better, worked together as a team, and did a great job on defense. I was glad that we played well on the road, because that will give us some confidence for the rest of our four-game road swing.”

The Lady Broncs improved to 1-2 with the victory, while the Lady Miners fell to 0-2. UTPA will continue their road trip when they visit Loyola of Chicago Sunday afternoon and Chicago State Tuesday evening.

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