Jan. 13, 2004

HAMMOND, LA-Southeastern Louisiana made three free throws with six seconds remaining and held on for a 60-58 victory over The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team at the University Center Tuesday evening.

Shanna Achord converted two free throws and Nakeya Downing added one to erase a one-point Lady Bronc advantage after freshman forward Kristi Dudley (Cedar Hill, TX/Cedar Hill HS) was called for a personal foul and a technical foul with six seconds to play.

Texas-Pan American had taken a 58-57 lead with 34 seconds left on a jump shot by junior guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS). The Lady Lions called time out with 16 seconds left to set up their final possession, and the Lady Broncs missed a three-pointer as time expired.

Texas-Pan American limited the Lady Lions to just 17.2 per cent from the field in the first half and took a 25-17 halftime lead. Trailing, 7-5, the Lady Broncs used a 12-5 run midway through the first half to take the first half lead for good. Junior center Molly Schamel (Hector, NY/ Watkins Glen HS/Yavapai College) connected on two jumpers and a hook shot during UTPA's run, and finished the first half making four of eight shots from the field for eight points.

SLU used a 13-0 run at the start of the second half to build a 30-25 lead before junior center Jennifer Arriola (Rio Rico, AZ/Rio Rico HS) hit a free throw to end the surge. The Lady Broncs fought back, using a 14-4 run later in the second half to create a 51-all tie with 4:41 remaining. Six different players scored during that run, with Schamel scoring twice. The teams traded the lead back and forth, with Dudley's layup with 3:04 left giving UTPA the lead, and SLU coming back to grab a 57-56 advantage on an offensive rebound basket and subsequent free throw by Downing with 1:03 left.

Schamel led Texas-Pan American with 14 points, Knox added eight, and Gooden and Dudley contributed six apiece. Knox grabbed eight rebounds as UTPA outrebounded the Lady Lions, 46-31. Senior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City Central HS/Northeast CC) had seven assists. Piwonka had two assists, and now has a career totals of 171, which leaves her tied for eighth with Bobbie Cole, who graduated in 1997.

LaSha Stover had 13 points for SLU, Downing added 12 points and 17 rebounds, while Shanna Achord added 10. The Lady Lions were 17-20 from the free throw line, while UTPA was three for 10. The Lady Broncs forced 14 turnovers, and committed 25.

"It was just a heartbreaking way for the game to end," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "We shot the ball really well from the field. I was very pleased with our game plan, and we got some tremendous looks inside. Molly hit some big shots, Azzie played a brilliant game, and Jennifer Piwonka hit the go-ahead basket with 34 seconds to go. We did not hit our free throws, they ran a half-court, trapping defense that bothered us, and we committed turnovers out on top that led to immediate baskets. We had a chance to extend our lead in the first half, and, had we done so, we could have sustained that run at the beginning of the second half."

Texas-Pan American fell to 7-10 with the loss, while SLU improved to 7-4. The Lady Broncs will return to action when they visit Southwest Missouri State next Thursday, January 22nd.