LADY BRONCS SIGN TIONA WILSON AND TYNESHA PIERCE
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team has added their second and third recruits for the fall of 2004.

Forward Tynesha Pierce of Houston, Texas and Westfield High School, and guard Tiona Wilson of Bradenton, Florida and Southeast High School will join the Lady Broncs next fall. Both Pierce and Wilson will enter as freshmen, with four years of eligibility.

Pierce earned first team All-District honors as a junior last season. She averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while playing for the team ranked 17th in the nation by USA Today.

"Tynesha can shoot, penetrate and get to the rim, and she also has the ability to play inside, with her back to the basket," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "She is a classic power forward who can rebound and defend as well as score."

Wilson played for the team that was the district champion and finished second at the Florida Class 4A State Tournament. She earned both the Hustle Award and the Free Throw Award, was the Most Valuable Player at the Lady Mocs Camp, and played for the team that was the AAU runner-up and the YBOA champion. A good student, Wilson was named to the National Honor Roll twice, and was chosen for inclusion in Who's Who Among America's High School Students.

"Tiona is a prototypical point guard," said Craft. "She has good court vision, passes well, has played at a very high level, and is fundamentally sound."

Pierce and Wilson join Kathy Guin of Guthrie High School in signing with the Lady Broncs for next fall.

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