For Immediate Release: Monday, February 17, 2003
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS SET FOR REMATCH WITH INDIANA-PURDUE-FORT WAYNE

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team will host Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne Tuesday evening in a rematch of last Thursday's 64-57 loss at IPFW.
Game time Tuesday evening is 7:00 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

Last Thursday, sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) led Texas-Pan American with a career-high 18 points, while UTPA career scoring leader Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) chipped in 16 points and three assists.

"Alex had a typical game," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "She got open and hit some shots. It was Piwonka's best offensive game. She was very aggressive offensively. We need some more production from the post. I thought we could score more in the paint, so we have to finish our shots."

Texas-Pan American brings a 4-20 record into Tuesday's contest, while IPFW is 9-16. UTPA is 2-3 over its five home games this semester, and is being outscored over that span, 58.8-57.8. The Lady Broncs have held a 41.7-37.9 percent edge in shots from the field in those games, and a 40.3-32.7 advantage from three point range.

Senior center Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) has led the Lady Broncs in scoring at home this semester, averaging 13 points per game. Gravel has scored 10.6 points per game, and has converted on 38.5 percent of her three-point attempts. Junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/Northeast JC) has chipped in 9.2 points per game, and 14 assists. Senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) has been the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.4 boards in those games.

"Early in the year, we didn't play as well at home," said Anderson. "We're shooting the ball a lot better in the second half of the season. We feel more comfortable at home. It's hard for opposing teams to shoot well on the road when they have to play in unfamiliar places."

The Mastodons are led by Amy Gearlds' 14.9 points per game. Gearlds is the only IPFW player scoring in double figures, but three are scoring at least nine points per game. Verea Bibbs is scoring 9.3 points per game, and hitting a team-high 56.4 percent of her shots from the field. Courtney Nicley and Maggie Bruening average nine points each. Bruening is converting a team-best 31.3 percent from three-point range. IPFW has been outscored 77.8-67.6 over their 25 games, and outrebounded by an average of 41.6-38.2 boards per game. The Mastodons have been outshot 44.4-37.9 percent from the field, and 31.2-26.8 percent from outside the three-point line.

"They are a team that is going to throw a lot of different looks at you defensively," said Anderson. "Amy Gearlds is their top scorer, but they have a lot of balance offensively, and will take what the defense gives them."

The Lady Broncs will return to action Thursday evening, when they host Lipscomb.

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