For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 525 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS DOWN INCARNATE WORD, 77-68

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American’s women’s basketball team took a big lead and then lost it in the first half of their game against Incarnate Word at the UTPA Fieldhouse Tuesday night.

They weren’t about to let it happen again in the second half. The Lady Broncs outscored the Crusaders, 20-9, in the first part of the second half, built a 62-49 lead, and went on to a 77-68 victory.

Texas-Pan American had started off quickly, scoring seven consecutive baskets to take a 24-8 lead midway through the first half. UIW came right back with a 22-6 run of their own and tied the score at 30 with 1:44 to go before a three-pointer by senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) and a pair of layups by sophomore forward Jennifer Arriola (Rio Rico, AZ/Rio Rico HS) gave UTPA a 37-32 lead at halftime.

Gravel made two free throws and added a three-pointer to ignite the Lady Broncs’ run in the second half. Arriola, junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/Northeast CC), sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) and senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/ Clear Brook HS) all scored during the run, which UT Pan American capped with a three-pointer by junior guard Mary DeCock (Lamberton, MN/Red Rock Central HS/Northeast CC) and layups by freshman forward Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie HS) and Piwonka.

UTPA led by 14, 65-51, with 5:40 to play, but Hilary Akromis’ three-pointer and subsequent layup helped the Crusaders reduce the lead to 65-59 with 3:56 to play. Piwonka countered with a jumper, and Carlow made two free throws and Gravel added one as the Lady Broncs held off UIW’s late charge.

Gravel led all scorers with 20 points, Piwonka added 16, Williams had 11, and Carlow and Arriola had 10 apiece. Williams had seven rebounds and Arriola grabbed six, but the Lady Broncs were outrebounded, 40-29, and won for the first time this year while being beaten on the boards.

Amy Mueller had 16 points to lead Incarnate Word, Michelle Viverette added 11, and April Walker and Shamieka Buckley each had 10. Viverette led UIW with eight rebounds.

The Lady Broncs finished with season highs in points, field goal percentage (52.5 per cent), and field goals made (31) while tying their season low with only nine turnovers.

“I wish we had more than one game left, because we’re playing our best basketball of the year right now,” said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. “Offensively, we were dynamite. Incarnate Word is a good defensive team, but we executed very well, and our guards did a great job handling the ball. One of the things we’ve been doing is substituting a little more in the first half. It’s helped us stay fresher in the second half, and tonight it helped our defense get us opportunities to score.”

The Lady Broncs improved to 6-21 with the victory, while UIW dropped to 15-10 with the defeat. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they host Centenary Saturday afternoon in the final game of the season at 1:00 p.m.

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