For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 05, 2002
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS FALL TO GONZAGA

SPOKANE, WA-Senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) returned after missing more than a year of action due to an injury, but The University of Texas Pan American women's basketball team fell to Gonzaga, 71-55 at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre on the GU campus Thursday night.

The Bulldogs shot well, making 48.1 per cent of their shots from the field, and 77.8 per cent of their shots from the free throw line on 11-of-14 attempts, including 10 free throws without a missin the first half.

After trailing by 12 points at halftime, the Lady Broncs pulled within six points early in the second half. A three-pointer from Gravel and a layup from sophomore forward Jennifer Arriola (Rio Rico, TX/Rio Rico HS) allowed UTPA to trim their deficit to 48-42, but the Bulldogs scored the next eight points to take a 56-42 lead, and Texas-Pan American could come no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

Raeanna Jewell scored 10 of the Bulldogs' 20 points in the first 7:41 of the first half, as Gonzaga took a 20-4 lead. UTPA rallied to within 27-13 with 9:27 remaining in the half on a pair of jumpers by Arriola and a three-point basket by Gravel.

Gonzaga held a 34-17 lead with 5:17 remaining before halftime, but layups by senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalmazoo Valley JC) and freshman forward Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie HS), and a three-pointer by senior guard Michelle Smith (Vancouver, BC/Heritage Park HS) keyed a 7-2 run by the Lady Broncs cut the deficit to 12 with 2:06 remaining in the first half.

"We started out very slowly again, and we gave up a lot of easy baskets in transition," said UTPA Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "We settled down, and made a good run towards the end of the first half. We played well offensively, and we executed our offense well against a good defensive team. We got witjhin six in the second half, then we gave up six straight points, and we couldn't close the gap after that. It helped having Alex. It took her a little bit of time to get into the flow of the game, but she definitely made a difference. (Sophomore guard) Jennifer Piwonka did a good job defensively, holding Shannon Mathews to just one point. We just dug ourselves a hole again at the start of the game."

UT Pan American had a season low 16 turnovers, and forced Gonzaga into 15. The Bulldogs out shot UTPA .481 to .339, but UTPA made 41.2 per cent of their shots from outside the three point line.

Porter had nine points and nine rebounds, while Gravel hit on four-of-nine three-point attempts.

Ashley Burke led the Bulldogs with 26 points and nine rebounds, scoring 17 of her points in the firsthalf. Triana Allen added 11 points, while Jewell had 10.

The Lady Broncs fell to 0-4 with the defeat, while GU improved to 2-4. UTPA will return to action Friday night when they travel to Eastern Washington.

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