Jan. 17, 2009

After winning two straight games at the UTPA Fieldhouse, The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball program (10-9) dropped a 73-57 decision to Cal State-Bakersfield this Saturday night (Jan. 17) at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

"This was a test. Cal State is just a tremendous basketball team. They've been a tough match-up for us and thought we started off the game very well," said head women's coach DeAnn Craft.

After tying the game at the 14:34 mark, the Lady Broncs would not hold another lead throughout tonight's contest.

The Lady Broncs would enter halftime trailing by 19 with a score of 44-25, but the second half would be a better showing from the Lady Broncs as they shot 41 percent (11-27) from the field, including 50 percent (2-4) from three-point range and 67 percent (8-12) from the foul line.

The Lady Broncs went on an 8-2 run to begin the second and came as close as 11 to the Lady Roadrunners. UTPA was able to penetrate more in the second as they scored 10 points in the paint compared to the first half with two points.

Freshman Epiphany Smith scored a career-high 19 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and 9-of-12 from the foul line along with five assists and two steals.

Brittany Demery finished the night with 12 points, two rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes of play.

"Valiant effort of our play from our freshman, Epiphany Smith and Brittany Demery. To get that out of freshman against this superior of a team is tremendous; I'm thrilled and elated," said Craft of Smith and Demery.

Senior Robin Garrett also finished in double-figures scoring 10 points, for a season-high along with four rebounds and one steal.

"There are always things you can pull from a game to make you better. They exposed some things to us and we can use it to make us better the rest of January," added Craft.

The Lady Broncs will be back in action on Monday, Jan. 19 as the face the Lady Huskies of Houston Baptist at the UTPA Fieldhouse with tip-off slated for 7:00 p.m. CT.

UTPA Sports Information