For Immediate Release:  December 14, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

NORTHERN ARIZONA DEFEATS LADY BRONCS, 69-56

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX-For the final 20 minutes, The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team had their offense firing on all cylinders in their game against Northern Arizona Saturday night.

But the Lady Broncs had to overcome too large a deficit, and they dropped a 69-56 decision to the Lumberjacks, 69-56, in the first women's college basketball game at the South Padre Island Convention Center.

Texas-Pan American made 50 per cent of their shots in the second half, and scored 33 points. However, they couldn't overcome a decisive 9-1 run early in the second half that allowed NAU to stretch their lead to 48-34 with 10:37 remaining.

Kim Winkfield and Lacey Tolbert made three-pointers during the 9-1 run for the Lumberjacks. The Lady Broncs had cut NAU's lead to six points on back to back three-pointers by senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) before NAU took command.

Senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) had a season-high 22 points and 10 rebounds for UT Pan American, the Lady Broncs' first double-double of the season. Gravel added 15 points, while sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) added 13. Alexis Rhodes led the Lumberjacks with 18 points, Tolbert had 15, and Jen Snitker added 11.

"I thought we played well in the second half, except for that stretch where we turned the ball over three straight times and their lead went from six to twelve points in less than a minute," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "We shot 50 per cent from the field in the second half, and that's something we've been working towards. We thought that we could go inside against NAU, but (senior forward) Julie (Porter, Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) got in foul trouble early, and we were limited. NAU is a good team, and we got some good looks against them, but we have to be able to come up with defensive stops when we need them."

The Lady Broncs dropped to 0-6 with the defeat, while NAU improved to 4-3. UTPA will visit Baylor Monday evening. "Baylor is a good team, and we hope to play well against them," said Anderson. "Our main focus at this point is on continuing to improve each time out."

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