For Immediate Release: Saturday, March 1, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS DOWN CENTENARY, 87-82

EDINBURG, TX-In a season of transition, it all came together in the final game for The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team.

The Lady Broncs took an eight-point lead, saw Centenary come from behind, then rallied to outscore the Ladies, 10-4, in the final 2:21 and went on to an 87-82 victory on Senior Day at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

The teams had traded the lead back and forth during the second half, until a 12-4 Lady Bronc run gave UTPA a 73-65 advantage with 6:39 remaining. However, Centenary scored 13 of the next 17 points, and Katie Nicol's jump shot from the free throw line gave CC a 78-77 lead with 2:28 remaining.

Senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) made a free throw, but another jumper by Nicol gave the Ladies an 80-78 lead. Senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) hit a jumper, but Lindsay Way made two free throws to put Centenary ahead, 82-80, with 1:11 remaining.

Junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/Northeast CC) hit a jumper to tie the game at 82 with 1:02 left. UTPA called time out, and Gravel stole the ball from CC's Alexis Pettway on the next possession. She drove and missed the layup, but senior forward Naima Williams grabbed the offensive rebound and scored with 39 seconds to play.

On Centenary's next possession, Nicol's jumper missed, and sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka was fouled and made a free throw to make it 85-82. Gravel then stole a cross-court pass, drew a foul and made two free throws, and time expired before the Ladies could get off another shot.

"It was Alex who made the steals, but we played great team defense to put her in position to make them," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "In the last minute and eleven seconds, we were as good as we can be defensively. We made steals, and we got some big defensive rebounds. We switched our defense so we could double Pettway, because she's such a great player."

Texas-Pan American had fallen behind by nine points, 37-28, with 4:16 remaining in the first half. The Lady Broncs responded with a 10-0 run to take a one-point advantage into the intermission. Piwonka and Williams hit jumpers, then Piwonka added a free throw and a three-pointer. Carlow's jump shot with 21 seconds left gave UTPA a 38-37 halftime lead and set the stage for the second half action.

Gravel led UTPA with 23 points, finishing her career as the all-time scoring leader for the Lady Broncs with 1227 points. Williams added 16, Carlow 15, Piwonka 14, and Porter 10. Senior guard Michelle Smith (Vancouver, BC/Heritage HS) added nine points, making three three-point field goals without a miss. Carlow had seven assists, and Gravel grabbed seven rebounds, but the Lady Broncs were outrebounded, 42-37.

Pettway led all scorers with 24 points, Julie Danieles added 14, Demetria Dorsey had 13, and Nicol and Van'esha Brabson had 10 points apiece. Pettway had 10 rebounds for a double-double.

"Only a handful of teams get to end their season with a win, and it was a great way for us to end the season," said Anderson. "It couldn't have been scripted any better."

With the victory, the Lady Broncs ended their season with a 7-21 record. Centenary finished their season with an 8-20 mark.

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