For Immediate Release: Friday, November 21, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS EDGE AIR FORCE AT RADISSON INN CLASSIC

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO-Sophomore forward Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie HS) and junior center Molly Schamel (Hector, NY/Watkins Glen HS/Yavapai HS) connected on jump shots 40 seconds apart midway through overtime and The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team held on to defeat host Air Force, 68-67, in a first round game at the Radisson Inn Classic at Clune Gym Friday evening.

The baskets by Gooden and Schamel followed a jumper by junior guard Ashley Roberts (Hernando, MS/Hernando HS/Butler County CC) and a free throw by junior guard Dawnne Cheadle (Roswell, NM/Roswell HS/Seminole State College) as the Lady Broncs scored seven of the first eight points in the overtime period and held off a Falcon rally.

Letricia Castillo nearly brought Air Force back single-handedly, hitting a three-pointer with 1:37 left and adding a pair of free throws in the final minute. But she missed a jump shot at the buzzer and Texas-Pan American earned their first victory ever against the Falcons and their first opening game win since they defeated Texas-San Antonio to open the 1998-99 season. It also made first-year Head Coach DeAnn Craft the first UTPA women's basketball coach to win her first game at Texas-Pan American.

The Lady Broncs grabbed an early 16-5 lead and led at halftime, 40-29. But Air Force battled back, outscoring the Lady Broncs in the second half, 32-21 and tying the game on Andrea Taylor's jumper with 40 seconds left in regulation time. Amoy Jackson took a jumper with one second left, but freshman forward Kristi Dudley (Cedar Hill, TX/Cedar Hill HS) of the Lady Broncs blocked it and sent the game to overtime.

Roberts led Texas-Pan American with 14 points, four assists and five steals. Schamel and junior guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) added 10 points each, with Piwonka adding five assists and Schamel grabbing eight rebounds. Jackson, Castillo and Taylor led the Falcons with 15 points each.

The Lady Broncs improved to 1-0 with the victory, while Air Force fell to 0-1 with the defeat. Texas-Pan American will play Dayton in Saturday's championship game at 6:30 p.m. Central Time.

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