Dec. 11, 2004
Box Score
The University of Texas - Pan American women's basketball team took its first loss at home on Saturday (Dec. 11) against Texas State 66-61. The hit takes UTPA's overall record to 3-6 on the season.
The Lady Broncs made their mark on the scoreboard first when Molly Schamel (Hector, NY/Yavapai College) scored inside and got fouled to put the Lady Broncs up 3-0 at the 19:12 mark in the first half of play. Schamel hit again in the paint to push the lead to four before Texas State's Tiffany Cook brought the Bobcats to within two with 17: 11 remaining in first half action.
The Lady Broncs would go up by five to hold their largest lead of the half with 14:37 on the clock after a jumper from Dominique Motague (Gilbert, AZ/Central Arizona Co.). As play continued the Bobcats would go on a five-point run to take their first lead of the game with 6:25 left in the first half and would hold that lead heading into intermission up 25-21.
"We played really committed on defense in the first half, and our offense started to slip. However, we were able to keep it close because of our intensity on the defensive end," stated head coach DeAnn Craft on the first half of play.
In the second half, the momentum would change for the Lady Broncs as they started the half with a three-point make from Montague to quickly cut the lead to one-point with 19:45 to play. Montague would end the game with a team-high 12 points and shot 3-8 from behind the arc.
"Dominique was able to shoot the ball well for us tonight, and we just didn't get her the ball as much as we needed to. I thought she made a tremendous effort offensively, and we needed to give her more chances to shoot tonight," stated Craft.
UTPA was able to create a lead again in the second half after junior Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie H. S.) converted on 1-2 at the line for a 35-29 Lady Broncs lead. The Bobcats then looked to guard Ashley McGruder to reclaim the lead after back-to-back hits, including a mid-range jumper and a three-point hit to go up by two at the 13:58 mark.
"In the second half, we were better offensively, but struggles on defense. We have to play hard on both ends, and we didn't do that in this game. I thought we gave them too many uncontested shots and they were able to convert and keep the lead," stated Craft.
The Bobcats forced the Lady Broncs into 11 second half turnovers and were able to take the lead to 14 points with 5:11 remaining. The Lady Broncs then responded late in the game to come within five at 62-57 with 1:37 seconds to go after Montague hit another from deep, and a defensive stop gave MaHogany Daniel (Corpus Christ, TX/Mary Carroll H.S.) a fast break lay-up.
The Bobcats would convert on 4-5 free throws with under a minute to play to push the lead back to eight points before UTPA's Kathy Guin (Guthrie, OK/ Guthrie H.S.) would make a final attempt hitting a three with four second to play. The Bobcats held the ball for the final possession to take the victory 66-61.
Schamel added 11 points and 4 rebounds for the Lady Broncs while Guin finished with a game-high four assists. Texas Stated had four players finish in double-figures.
"This is a game we can't get back. We failed to do any of the important things we needed to like make free throws, limit our turnovers, and play tough on defense. If we had even done well in one of those areas there may have been a different outcome," Craft concluded.
The Lady Broncs will be back in action at home against University of Texas - Permian Basin on Thursday, (Dec. 16) tipping off at 5:00 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse.
UTPA Sports Information
