For Immediate Release: Sunday, December 29, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS FALL TO MISSISSIPPI STATE AT LADY GRIZ HOLIDAY CLASSIC

MISSOULA, MT-The 14th-ranked team in the nation had a bit too much firepower for The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team in their consolation game at the Lady Griz Holiday Classic at Dahlberg Arena Sunday night.

Mississippi State outscored the Lady Broncs in the first half, 37-18, and went on to a 70-38 victory to claim third place at the tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs scored the first 11 points of the game and were never headed. Senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) connected on a pair of three-point field goals and senior guard Michelle Smith (Vancouver, BC/Heritage Park HS) made a free throw as Texas-Pan American cut the MSU lead to six points, 13-7, with 14:35 remaining in the first half. However, they could not get any closer.

Gravel led the Lady Broncs with 16 points. Senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) added eight, while junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/Northeast CC) scored five. Senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) grabbed 10 rebounds as Texas-Pan American outrebounded MSU, 42-35.

Tan White had 15 points to lead MSU, LaToya Thomas added 14 and Blessing Chekwa added 12. The Lady Bulldogs made 41.1 per cent of their shots from the field, held UTPA to 23.5 per cent, and took advantage of 30 Lady Bronc turnovers.

Gravel was the lone UTPA representative on the All-Tournament Team. She joined Thomas, Crystal Baird and Hollie Tyler of Montana, and Kim Smith and Shona Thorburn of Utah. Montana defeated Utah for the championship, 53-49.

"We came out tentative against one of the top teams in the country," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "We had some turnovers early, then we settled down, and we were more competitive. I think we were a little intimidated right from the start. You can't do that against a great team, you need to come out and attack them, and play them fearlessly. We did a good job of finding Alex early, and we did a good job defensively in the post. Julie did a great job on LaToya Thomas, who is a Kodak All-American. We did a good job of going to the boards, but when you shoot 23 per cent, you aren't going to win. Their defense was very good, they made us take some quick shots. Now we need to use our tough early schedule to help us in the rest of our games."

Mississippi State improved to 9-2 with the victory, while UT Pan American fell to 0-10 with the defeat. The Lady Broncs will return to action when they host Binghamton Friday night at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

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