LADY BRONCS SET FOR COMMERCE BANK WILDCAT CLASSIC
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team will put their unbeaten record on the line when they face their toughest competition of the young season this weekend.

The Lady Broncs will participate in the Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic.

Texas-Pan American is off to a 4-0 start, which is the best start in school history. They will play Saint Louis Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in the first game of the tournament. Host Kansas State plays Sacramento State in the nightcap. The finals are scheduled for Saturday.

Saint Louis will bring a 4-1 record into Friday afternoon's game against the Lady Broncs. SLU's only loss was at Miami, and they are coming off a 68-63 victory against Loyola Tuesday evening. Senior front court players Angie Lewis and Stephanie Solomon are combining to average 34.6 points per game for the Billikens.

"Saint Louis is a very good team," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "They have two outstanding post players, and we'll have to be able to slow them down in order to be successful. It will be a challenge for us."

Kansas State is ranked 13th, and is 3-2 after defeating Northern Illinois, 60-41 Tuesday night. The Wildcats have lost only at seventh-ranked Penn State and at ninth-rated Purdue, and are led by junior forward Kendra Wecker, who averages 16 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Sacramento State is 0-5, and is coming off a 79-69 loss to Santa Clara Monday night.

"Kansas State is a national caliber team," said Craft. "Playing them would be a great challenge, and it would show us where we are and where we hope to be. Sacramento State is a scary team. They don't have a good record, but they've played some good teams close, so you never know."

The Lady Broncs will take next week off for final exams and return to action a week from Sunday when they host Oral Roberts.

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