Dec. 19, 2003

EDINBURG, TX-Marshall outscored The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team, 34-12 in the final 11 minutes and scored a come-from-behind 74-59 victory over the Lady Broncs at the UTPA Fieldhouse Friday evening.

Mary Pat Statler's three-pointer put Marshall ahead for good, 48-47 with 9:09 to play. Kashawna Curry followed with three free throws and a jump shot before junior guard Ashley Roberts (Hernando, MS/Hernando HS/Butler County CC) broke the run with a jump shot to pull the Lady Broncs to within five points.

MU stretched their lead to nine points, 62-53, with 4:48 remaining. Two free throws by junior guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) brought Texas-Pan American back to within four points at 62-58 with 3:20 to play, but the Lady Broncs could get no closer.

The Thundering Herd, who were held to 38.7 per cent from the field in the first half, made 53.3 per cent of their shots from the field in the second half while UTPA, which hot 44.8 per cent in the first half, shot 36.4 per cent in the second half.

"For 30 minutes, we played great basketball against a team that was receiving votes in the national poll," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "Then we got out of our game plan, we started playing individual ball rather than team ball, and you have to give Marshall credit for that. I thought we controlled the game for 30 minutes, but we have to be able to finish in those situations. That's something we have to learn from the game tonight."

Roberts and sophomore forward Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie HS) each had 11 points to lead the Lady Broncs. Hodge had 20 points to lead MU, Catie Knable added 17, and Curry added 11. Knable grabbed 14 rebounds as the Thundering Herd outrebounded Texas-Pan American, 42-29.

Piwonka had two assists to give her 148 for her career. She is now tied for 10th place on the all-time list at UTPA with Kelley Crouch, who graduated in 1990.

The Lady Broncs fell to 5-4 with the defeat, while Marshall improved to 6-1. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they host Central Michigan Sunday afternoon.