Jan. 31, 2004

FORT WAYNE, IN -The University of Texas-Pan-American's women's basketball team outscored host Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, 15-2 midway through the second half, took a 60-58 lead, and held on for a 75-72 victory over the Mastodons at the Gates Sports Center Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Broncs, who trailed, 42-35 at halftime, were behind, 56-45 with 13:17 remaining when they began their decisive run. Senior forward Mary DeCock (Lamberton, MN/Red Rock Central HS/Northeast CC), who ignited the run with a three-pointer, added a jumper and another trey. Junior guards Dawnne Cheadle (Roswell, NM/Roswell HS/Seminole State College) and Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) each contributed a jumper, and when DeCock connected on her third three-pointer of the run, Texas-Pan American had a 60-58 lead with 9:21 remaining.

The teams battled back and forth, and although IPFW never led again, they tied the game for the final time at 71-all on a pair of free throws by Verea Bibbs with 55 seconds remaining. Senior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid City CHS/Northeast CC) gave the Lady Broncs the lead for good at 73-71 when she hit a layup with 38 seconds remaining. Bibbs then drew a foul and hit one of two free throws, and Carlow was fouled and made two free throws with 11 seconds left to account for the final score.

Carlow led all scorers with 19 points, making six of nine shots from the field. She added four steals and three assists while playing all 40 minutes, Cheadle made seven of 12 shots from the field for a career-high 17 points. DeCock added 13 points, while junior center Molly Schamel (Hector, NY/Watkins Glen HS/Yavapai College) added 10.

Bibbs led the Mastodons with 17 points, Maggie Bruening had 12, and Amy Gearlds and Geneva Murdock had 10 points each. Freshman forward Kristi Dudley (Cedar Hill, TX/Cedar Hill HS) had eight rebounds for Texas-Pan American, and the Lady Broncs committed a season-low 12 turnovers and outscored IPFW in the second half, 40-30.

"It was a seven-point ballgame at halftime (42-35 IPFW), and we challenged our defense a little bit," said UTPA Head Coach DeAnn Craft. "We went on a run, and in three minutes we went from being down 11 to being up by two. Mary hit three big threes for us, and then it was nip and tuck from that point on. Amanda's basket in the final minute was huge. She played a tremendous game, and Dawnne Cheadle had her best game of the year. They are a talented offensive team, they only lost by 15 points to Wisconsin, and I thought we really stepped it up in the second half and did what we had to do on the road to win. That stretch in the second half was probably our best six minutes of the year."

The Lady Broncs won their second game in a row and improved to 9-12, while the Mastodons fell to 7-13. Texas-Pan American will return home to play Northern Colorado Tuesday evening.