For Immediate Release: Thursday, November 21, 2002
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS TO OPEN SEASON AGAINST TEXAS-ARLINGTON

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team will open the regular season on Monday when they host Texas-Arlington. The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

Texas-Pan American went 7-21 last season, and lost their only exhibition game, falling to Texas Woman's University, 50-47. Senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) led the Lady Broncs with 20 points against TWU, after finishing second on the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game last season. Anderson also looks to senior Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) and sophomore Jennifer Arriola (Rio Rico, AZ/Rio Rico HS) to give UTPA a stronger presence in the paint and control the tempo of the game.

UT Arlington went 14-15 last year, and defeated the Houston Jaguars in their exhibition contest, 82-67. "This is a tough opening game," said Texas-Pan American Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "It should be a good test of where we are."

Anderson feels that the Lady Broncs need to keep the game close. "We need to have a low-scoring game," said Anderson. "We need to get the ball into Jennifer Arriola and Julie Porter's hands more often to give them scoring opportunities, and we have to take care of the ball on the perimeter."

Anderson expects the Lady Mavericks to be an athletic team that favors an up-tempo style game and is very well-rounded. "I think their strength is in their perimeter game," said Anderson. "They are solid all-around, and are solid both inside and outside. They are young, but they have all five starters back from last year., and are very deep and athletic."

Sheena Johnson and Rola Ogunoye will lead the Lady Mavericks offensively. "Sheena Johnson and Rola Ogunoye give them a well-balanced attack," said Anderson. "Arlington has great quickness on the perimeter, and scoring ability in the paint."

UTPA will host Angelo State on Wednesday and Tulsa on Saturday. Both games will begin at 7:00 p.m.

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