Jan. 24, 2004

EDINBURG, TX-Texas A&M-Corpus Christi scored 12 consecutive points midway through the first half, took a 37-25 halftime lead, and went on to a 73-43 victory over The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team at the UTPA Fieldhouse Friday evening.

The Islanders led, 20-16 with 9:27 left in the first half when they began their run. Junior guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) broke the run with a three-point goal with 4:05 remaining. Piwonka added a jumper and two free throws, but the Islanders led at halftime, 37-25.

Texas-Pan American had gotten off to a good start. Three-pointers by senior forward Mary DeCock (Lamberton, MN/Red Rock Central HS/Northeast CC) and senior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City Central HS/Northeast CC) propelled them to an early 10-8 advantage before TAMU-CC came back to take the lead. A pair of free throws by freshman forward Kristi Dudley (Cedar Hill, TX/Cedar Hill HS) and junior center Molly Schamel (Hector, NY/Watkins Glen HS/Yavapai College) cut TAMU-CC's lead to 20-16 before the Islanders went on their run.

In the second half, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went on a 14-6 run to lead, 51-31 with 10:59 left to go. UTPA never got closer then 19 points after that.

Schamel led the Lady Broncs with 10 points. Sophomore forward Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie HS) came off the bench to grab eight rebounds, score four points, and blocked a shot. Piwonka added seven points.

Roberta Plaza led the Islanders with 17 points and 14 rebounds, Terra Andrews added 15 points and nine rebounds, and Anna Hartzell scored 10 points and grabbed nine boards. Texas A&M-CC outrebounded the Lady Broncs, 57-38, grabbing 25 offensive rebounds.

For Texas-Pan American, Piwonka recorded the 172nd assist of her career. She is now in eighth place on the all-time UTPA list.

"They absolutely manhandled us in every statistical category," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "I felt that in the first four or five minutes, the game was there for the taking, but the fact that we weren't successful offensively dictated the rest of what we did. It affected us on the boards and defensively. I know that we were coming off six road games and playing 48 hours after our last game, but Corpus just took it to us."

Texas-Pan American fell to 7-12 with the defeat, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi improved to 13-8. The Lady Broncs will return to action when they host Incarnate Word Tuesday evening.