For Immediate Release: Sunday, January 05, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS BREAK LOSING STREAK AT NEBRASKA

LINCOLN, NE-The Bob Devaney Sports Center was the setting for one of the biggest victories in the history of The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team Sunday afternoon.

The Lady Broncs defeated a Big 12 Conference team for the first time in school history, upsetting Nebraska, 61-58.

With the game tied at 53, junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/ Northeast CC) connected on a jump shot to put the Lady Broncs ahead for good. Margaret Richards fouled senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) with 27 seconds left, and she made both free throws to give Texas-Pan American a 57-53 lead. Jina Johansen's jump shot with 10 seconds remaining cut the Lady Broncs' advantage to two, 57-55. Shahidrah Roberts immediately fouled sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS), who made both free throws to make it 59-55, UT Pan American. Margaret Richards of the Huskers made a three-pointer with two seconds remaining to make it 59-58, but Johnson fouled sophomore forward Jennifer Arriola (Rio Rico, AZ/Rio Rico HS), who made both free throws to make it 61-58. A long shot by NU missed as the final buzzer sounded.

"There were five seconds left on the shot clock on the possession that Amanda hit the jump shot to put us ahead," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "We called time out, we drew up the play, and she made a tremendous move and a great shot. We did a great job defensively down the stretch, and we went six for six from the line in the last 30 seconds. Each of those free throws was very critical, and I felt that we were mentally tough when we needed to be, and that we played with a lot of heart."

UTPA broke from a 29-all halftime tie, using four free throws by senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS), layups by Arriola and senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC), and Carlow's three-pointer to take a 40-33 lead with 15:20 remaining.

NU stormed back, and Jessie Runty's three-pointer and a jumper by Greichaly Cepero gave the Huskers a 48-45 lead with 9:02 to play. NU led, 51-47, when Gravel connected on a pair of three-pointers late in the second half, the second coming with 1:57 to play and creating a 53-all tie. UTPA outscored Nebraska, 14-7, in the final four minutes.

Gravel led the Lady Broncs with a season-high 22 points, and her six three-point field goals tied the Bob Devaney Sports Center single-game record. Carlow added a career-high 10 points, while Williams and Piwonka added eight points each. Williams grabbed nine rebounds and Carlow six as the Lady Broncs outrebounded Nebraska, 42-30. Texas-Pan American made all 14 of their free throws, including six without a miss in the final 27 seconds. The 14 free throws without a miss also established a Bob Devaney Sports Center record.

Roberts led NU with 13 points, Runty and Richards added 11 apiece, and Alexa Johnson added 10. The Huskers made just nine of 17 free throw attempts.

"We stayed in control, even though we got down by four, and we didn't panic," said Anderson. "We held their top two post players to only 10 points, and we played with a lot of heart. I think this team grew up tremendously today. We've been getting better in terms of execution, but today, we played with much more confidence. We have to continue to get better, and, if we do, we have a chance to have a good stretch."

The Lady Broncs snapped a 12-game losing streak with their victory, and improved to 1-11. Nebraska fell to 7-4. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they host Air Force Thursday evening.

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