WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD AS IT ROLLS OVER IPFW
Contact: Mike Bond (mibond@panam.edu), UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

Edinburg, Texas - Texas-Pan American broke one school record and tied another as it defeated IPFW, 80-55 at the UTPA Fieldhouse tonight. This was the 12th win of the season breaking the school NCAA Division I record of 11 wins set back in 2000-01. The Lady Broncs also tied the school overall record of 12 wins set in 1984-85 when they were NAIA.

For most of the first 15 minutes, this game was a tight one. Two free throws by Verea Bibbs made it 23-17, UTPA with 4:15 to go in the half. The Lady Broncs finished the half on a 9-4 run that gave them the lead by 11 at halftime. IPFW could never get closer than 11 points in the second half.

The Lady Broncs shot 50% from the floor for the game including a sizzling 68% from the floor in the second half. The Mastodons had shooting woes as they had seven shots blocked and shot just 26.3% from the floor.

For Texas-Pan American (12-13), Molly Schamel (Jr./Hector, N.Y./Yavapai College) led four players in double-figures with 18 points, three steals, blocked two shots and shot 8-of-13 from the floor. Kristi Dudley (Fr./Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill HS) had 13 points and nine rebounds, Dawnne Cheadle (Jr./Roswell, N.M./Seminole State) had 11 points, five assists and three steals while MaHogany Daniel (Fr./Corpus Christie, Texas/Mary Carroll HS).

For IPFW (7-18), Bibbs had 12 points and eight rebounds while Amy Geralds had 11 points and two steals.

"Collectively this was our best performance of the year" said head coach DeAnn Craft. "We played both sides of the ball with an equal amount of intensity and focus. I thought our shot selection was superb and the defensive effort we put on them, especially their point guard was the difference. We got back-to-back double digit wins over two very good teams (Louisiana-Lafayette and IPFW) so that is a big accomplishment. We got Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coming up and we are looking for some payback. We didn't play particularly well but we have been lately. It should be a good game."

Texas-Pan American is off until February 24 when they hit the road to take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders won, 73-43 on January 24 at the UTPA Fieldhouse. The game is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.