For Immediate Release: Sunday, November 10, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS FALL TO TWU, 50-47

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team turned in a good effort in their opening exhibition game against Texas Woman's University at the UTPA Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Lady Broncs, TWU scored the game's final three points and defeated the Lady Broncs, 50-47.

The teams battled back and forth down the stretch, with senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) connecting on a layup and two free throws to pull the Lady Broncs into a 47-all tie with 1:11 remaining. However, Sonya Hodge made a free throw with 44 seconds left to untie the game for the final time, then Keshun Irving made two free throw with 10 seconds left to stretch the Pioneers' lead and account for the final margin.

Williams scored seven points in the first half as Texas-Pan American took a 23-22 halftime lead. The Pioneers regained the advantage, stretching it to 31-25 with 13:13 left before the Lady Broncs used an 11-5 run to create a 36-all tie with 8:32 to play. Neither team had a sizable lead again.

Williams led the Lady Broncs with 20 points, junior guard Mary DeCock (Lamberton, MN/Red Rock Central HS/Northeast JC) added eight and senior guard Michelle Smith (Vancouver, BC/Heritage Park HS) contributed seven. Senior center Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) grabbed 13 rebounds and Williams had 10.

Tiesha Wady led TWU with 14 points. Wady and Daphne Lyons had seven rebounds each as the Pioneers won the battle of the boards, 51-44.

"Our effort was definitely there, and we have 14 players who are learning new offensive and defensive systems," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "(Junior guard) Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City HS/Northeast JC) did an exceptional job of handling the ball, and (freshman forward) Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie HS), for a freshman, came in and gave us a spark at the forward spot. I think we're a better shooting team than we showed. We definitely have some things to work on during the next few weeks, but, overall, I think it was definitely a positive experience for us. TWU had a lot of athleticism on the perimeter, an they had already had one exhibition game. We had two starters who were injured, and I expect us to improve as we get players back and are able to put in more of our offense and defense."

The game was the lone exhibition game of the season for the Lady Broncs. They will return to action when they open the season at home against Texas-Arlington November 25th.

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