For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS DEFEAT INDIANA-PURDUE-FORT WAYNE, 71-57

EDINBURG, TX-Early in the second half of Tuesday night's game, The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team seemed to have lost the spark that they had played with at the start of their game against Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne at the UTPA Fieldhouse Tuesday night.

Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson challenged her team during a media time out, and they responded. The Lady Broncs used a 19-8 run during the next seven minutes to take a 52-39 lead, and went on to a 71-57 victory over the Mastodons.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Arriola (Rio Rico, AZ/Rio Rico HS) hit three layups during the run, junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/Northeast CC) added two more, and senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) and Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) also scored.

"At the time out, I said that we needed to play with more energy, and Amanda said let's go," said Anderson. "Amanda had a phenomenal game tonight, and Jennifer Arriola was huge."

The Lady Broncs, who had led for the first 15 minutes, then trailed until Williams' free throw gave them the lead for good at 38-37 with 13:42 remaining. Texas-Pan American built a 17-point lead with 27 seconds left, and used seven successful free throws in the final 1:14 to hold off a late Mastodon charge.

"This was the first time we did a good job of running the floor," said Anderson. "Amanda made good decisions, and allowed us to run, and we picked up on her energy. We thought we could score against them in the post. Last time we played them, our post players didn't finish, and this time, they did. We made a couple of adjustments this time, and we did a better job of stopping their penetration."

Arriola led the Lady Broncs with 17 points, making eight of nine field goals and scoring in double figures for the first time in her UT Pan American career. Gravel had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and posted a double-double for the first time as a collegian. Williams added 11 points, and sophomore Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) added 10. Senior forward Julie Porter grabbed 10 rebounds, and Carlow had seven assists as UTPA had a season-high 20 assists.

Texas-Pan American improved to 5-20 with the victory, while IPFW fell to 9-17 with the defeat. UTPA will return to action when they host Lipscomb Thursday evening.

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