LADY BRONCS VISIT TEXAS
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team will face their toughest challenge of the season when they travel to Austin to play the fifth-ranked team in the nation Wednesday evening.

The Lady Broncs will play Texas. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center.

The Lady Broncs will take a 5-2 record into Wednesday night's game. Texas-Pan American is coming off a 67-57 defeat at the hands of Oral Roberts Sunday evening.

Junior guard Ashley Roberts (Hernando, MS/Hernando HS/Butler County CC) enters Wednesday night's game leading the nation in steals. Roberts is currently averaging 4.4 steals per game. The Lady Broncs rank fifth nationally in steals, averaging 15 steals per game, and 20th in assists, averaging 18.7 assists per contest.

Texas is 8-1, and won their first seven games before losing at sixth-ranked Penn State December 7th. UT is coming off a 91-50 victory against North Texas Sunday afternoon.

"They're the best team we've ever played, as far as a ranked opponent," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "It's a great opportunity for our kids to be in that type of environment."

UT averaged 81.9 points per game and yields just 54.8. Sunday, they led North Texas by nine at halftime, but won by 41 points.

"We'll try to divide the game up into shorter periods," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "We'll split the game up into 20 two-minute games, and try to play near perfect basketball for those four or five possessions. If we can neutralize a few, and win a few of those stretches, the game won't get out of hand. Against UCLA, they were ahead by two at the half, and won by 30. It's extremely important that we stay focused within that period."

Following Wednesday's game, the Lady Broncs will return home to play their final two home games of the semester, Friday night against Marshall and Sunday afternoon against Central Michigan.

WBB-18-04121603