Feb. 22, 2005

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The University of Texas - Pan American women's basketball team dropped its final game at the UTPA Fieldhouse against the Islanders of Texas A&M - Corpus Christi by a 68-48 margin on Tuesday (Feb. 23).

The first half would show to be an offensive struggle for both squads, but especially for the Lady Broncs, who didn't connect on a field goal until a jumper from Stacey Gooden (Houston, TX/J.F. Dobie H.S.) would finally fall with 3:54 remaining in the half. Gooden and point guard Tiona Wilson (Bradenton, FL/Southeast H.S.) would be the only offensive force for UTPA as they went into half time down 15-24. Gooden would score eight of her team-high 11 points within the last four minutes of first half action. It was a disappointing offensive night for the Lady Broncs as they finished 15-40 from the floor.

The second half would improve in the first three minutes for the Lady Broncs as they cut the lead to eight after a lay-up inside from Gooden. However, the Islanders would then go on a 7-0 run in the second half to push the lead back to 15 points at 36-21. UTPA had trouble cutting into the lead and the shooting performance of TAMUCC's Lindsey Van Dorn would build the lead to a 27-point margin with 7:09 remaining in the game.

"We didn't contain their shooters well tonight, and we didn't do a very good job of executing our own game plan. The first half was the most unproductive half we have had all season, and we didn't respond or make the necessary changes," stated head coach DeAnn Craft.

The closest the Lady Broncs would come would be 19 points, 63-44, at the 1:53 mark. Down the stretch, senior Jennifer Arriola (Rio Rico, AZ/Rio Rico H.S.) converted on 5-of-6 free throws, but the margin was to much as UTPA took the loss 68-48.

"Corpus is a better ball club then we are, and we have to do a lot of things right to play at their level. We didn't do nearly enough to compete with them tonight." Craft concluded.

Gooden finished 4-4 from the floor for a team-high 11 points while Wilson finished with a career-high 10 points in the contest. As the seniors played in their last home game, Molly Schamel (Hector, NY/Yavapai College) and Ashley Roberts (Henando, MS/Butler County C.C.) both had team-high rebounds with six a piece. Jennifer Piwanka (Louise, TX/Louise H.S.) finished with four points, while Dawnne Cheadle (Roswell, NM/Seminole State C.C.) notched three rebounds and two assists. Arriola netted six points, shooting 6-8 from the charity stripe.

The Lady Broncs will hit the road for a game against IPFW (Feb. 26) tipping off at 1:00 p.m. in Fort Wayne, IN.

UTPA Sports Information