Jan. 9, 2004
SAN DIEGO, CA-San Diego State outscored The University of
Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team in the second half, 32-15, and went
on to a 59-38 victory over the Lady Broncs at Cox Arena Friday evening.
Leading at halftime, 27-23, SDSU scored the first four
baskets of the second half before junior center Molly Schamel (Hector,
NY/Watkins Glen HS/ Yavapai College) broke the streak with a layup. Schamel
connected on another jumper six minutes into the second half to cut the Aztecs'
advantage to 40-29, but the Lady Broncs could not get any closer.
San Diego State took an early 8-2 lead, but Texas-Pan
American came right back. Senior forward Mary DeCock (Lamberton, MN/Red Rock
Central HS/Northeast CC) connected on a pair of three-pointers to pull UTPA into
a 14-all deadlock with 10:44 to play in the first half. The Aztecs pulled ahead,
19-15, but a trey by senior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City
Central HS/Northeast CC) cut the lead to a single point at 19-18. A pair of
layups by freshman forward MaHogany Daniel (Corpus Christi, TX/Mary Carroll HS)
allowed UTPA to finish the first half trailing by four points at 27-23.
"We played a real good first half, and we should have built a
lead, but we didn't," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "We got some good looks
at the basket, but the shots didn't go in. We came out flat in the second half,
and San Diego State took advantage of it. We weren't able to force the tempo,
and San Diego State made it into a half court game, which is their strength.
Molly gave us some very good minutes, but it really hurt us when she got into
foul trouble. Mo (MaHogany Daniel) had one of her better games for us, and Mary
hit some big shots in the first half."
Schamel led the Lady Broncs with 12 points, while Dudley and
Daniel added six points each. Ashlee Dunlap had 15 points and nine rebounds for
San Diego State, while Michelle Elliott added 12 and Michelle Strawberry had 11.
Junior guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) had two
assists, and her career total of 169 leaves her ninth on the all-time list at
UTPA.
The Aztecs made 18 of 50 shots from the field for 36 per
cent, while Texas-Pan American made 15 of 45 for 33 per cent. SDSU outrebounded
UTPA, 35-30.
SDSU improved to 5-8 with the victory, while the Lady Broncs
fell to 7-8 with the defeat. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they
visit Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday afternoon.
