For Immediate Release: Saturday, December 21, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS FALL TO MIDWESTERN STATE, 84-58

EDINBURG, TX-A short stretch was decisive in The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball game against Midwestern State Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Indians outscored Texas-Pan American, 16-3 during the final four minutes and 26 seconds of the first half and went on to an 84-58 victory at the UTPA Fieldhouse in the final game for both teams before the holiday break.

MSU built an early 21-10 advantage before the Lady Broncs came back. Junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/Northeast CC) made a three-pointer, freshman guard Kristi McGuire (The Woodlands, TX/The Woodlands HS) made a jumper, senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) connected on a jumper and senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) scored twice to cut the Lady Indians' advantage to four points.

Midwestern State responded with their run. Kelly Woodward hit a jumper, two layups and two free throws as the Lady Indians grabbed a 41-24 halftime lead.

Senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) led all scorers with a career-high 19 points, making all eight of her shots from the field. Williams added 13, while sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) grabbed 11 rebounds as the Lady Broncs outrebounded MSU, 36-23.

Jel-Ani Armstrong paced five Lady Indians in double figures with 15 points. Kristin Ramsey added 14, Katherine Maples had 13, Emily Edmonds added 11 and Woodward had ten.

"We got ourselves in position, but then we started turning the ball over for layups, and we can't do that," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "We did a good job early, but then we didn't rotate properly on defense, and they got things going. We can't afford to get way behind, because it's hard for us to score a lot of points. We have to take care of the ball better, and we can't afford to keep turning it over for layups."

The Lady Broncs dropped to 0-8 with the defeat, while MSU improved to 4-3. UT Pan American will return to action when they visit Montana for a first round game in the Lady Griz Holiday Classic next Saturday evening, December 28th.

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