For Immediate Release: Monday, December 23, 2002
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS HEADED TO LADY GRIZ HOLIDAY CLASSIC

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team will return to action on Saturday when they play Montana from the Big Sky Conference in the opening round of the Lady Griz Holiday in Missoula, Montana. Tip-off will be at 9:05 p.m. central.

Mississippi State from Conference USA and Utah from the Mountain West Conference will also be participating in the tournament. Mississippi State is currently 8-1 and ranked 14th in the latest USA Today/ESPN poll. Montana's record is 6-2, and they are 128th in the latest RPI Power Index.

The Lady Broncs are led by senior forward Naima Williams' (Houston, TX (Clear Brook HS) 10 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) is scoring 9.8 points per game, while sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX (Louise HS) averages eight points and five rebounds per game.

Senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI (Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) has shot 80 percent and averaged 11 points over the last two games. Against Midwestern State, Porter recorded a career high 19 points against Midwestern State, connecting on all eight of her field goal attempts.

Montana comes into the tournament with a 6-2 record, and has outscored its opponents 64.8-60.1. The Lady Griz are led by Hollie Tyler's 17.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Katie Edwards is scoring 9.4 points per game, and Brooklynn Lorenzen is dishing out 5.9 assists per game. Montana has won two of their last three, falling against Oregon, 65-60, on Thursday.

The Lady Broncs will play either Utah or Mississippi State on Sunday evening.