For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 19, 2002
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS HOST MIDWESTERN STATE

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team will host Midwestern State Saturday afternoon in their final home game of the fall semester. Midwestern State brings a 3-3 record into Saturday's contest, and is on top of the Lone Star Conference South Division with a 1-0 mark in the division.

"Midwestern State is not very big," said UTPA Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "But they are very aggressive on both ends of the floor. They are a very scrappy team."

Texas-Pan American, which is looking to win for the first time this season and comes into the game with an 0-7 record, has three players scoring eight or more points per game, led by senior guard Alex Gravel's (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) 10.8 point average. Senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) and sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) are averaging 9.6 and 8.7 points per game, respectively. Senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) leads the team in rebounding with six rebounds a game, while Williams is second with an average of 5.3 rebounds.

Sophomore forward Clarisse Arredondo (McAllen, TX/McAllen HS/Centenary College) has emerged over the past few games to give the Lady Broncs a spark. Arredondo tied for the team lead against Baylor on Monday with eight points. "Clarisse is trying to bring something to the table that we haven't had," said Anderson. "She gives us more offensive rebounding, and has played good perimeter defense."

Midwestern State has been out shot 43.1 per cent to 41.6 per cent from the field, but has converted on 37.9 per cent of their three-point attempts. The Lady Indians also have outrebounded their opponents, 42.3 rebounds per game to 36.7.

The Lady Indians feature a balanced offense, with seven players scoring 8.2 or more points per game, led by Octavia Holmes at 10.8 points per game. Two other MWS players score in double figures. Jel-ani Armstrong is averaging 10.7 points per game, while Meosha Walker scores 10.3 points per game.

"They run a lot of motion on offense, and play a lot of man-to-man defense," said Anderson.
"They will try to pressure our guards. It will be a good test for us."

The Lady Broncs will return to action when they visit Montana a week from Saturday in the opening round of the Lady Griz Holiday Classic.

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