Nov. 21, 2003
New Page 1
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO-Sophomore forward Stacey Gooden
(Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie HS) and junior center Molly Schamel (Hector, NY/Watkins
Glen HS/Yavapai HS) connected on jump shots 40 seconds apart midway through
overtime and The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team held
on to defeat host Air Force, 68-67, in a first round game at the Radisson Inn
Classic at Clune Gym Friday evening.
The baskets by Gooden and Schamel followed
a jumper by junior guard Ashley Roberts (Hernando, MS/Hernando HS/Butler County
CC) and a free throw by junior guard Dawnne Cheadle (Roswell, NM/Roswell
HS/Seminole State College) as the Lady Broncs scored seven of the first eight
points in the overtime period and held off a Falcon rally.
Letricia Castillo nearly brought Air Force
back single-handedly, hitting a three-pointer with 1:37 left and adding a pair
of free throws in the final minute. But she missed a jump shot at the buzzer and
Texas-Pan American earned their first victory ever against the Falcons and their
first opening game win since they defeated Texas-San Antonio to open the 1998-99
season. It also made first-year Head Coach DeAnn Craft the first UTPA women's
basketball coach to win her first game at Texas-Pan American.
The Lady Broncs grabbed an early 16-5 lead
and led at halftime, 40-29. But Air Force battled back, outscoring the Lady
Broncs in the second half, 32-21 and tying the game on Andrea Taylor's jumper
with 40 seconds left in regulation time. Amoy Jackson took a jumper with one
second left, but freshman forward Kristi Dudley (Cedar Hill, TX/Cedar Hill HS)
of the Lady Broncs blocked it and sent the game to overtime.
Roberts led Texas-Pan American with 14
points, four assists and five steals. Schamel and junior guard Jennifer Piwonka
(Louise, TX/Louise HS) added 10 points each, with Piwonka adding five assists
and Schamel grabbing eight rebounds. Jackson, Castillo and Taylor led the
Falcons with 15 points each.
The Lady Broncs improved to 1-0 with the
victory, while Air Force fell to 0-1 with the defeat. Texas-Pan American will
play Dayton in Saturday's championship game at 6:30 p.m. Central Time.
