Feb. 27, 2010

HOUSTON, TX--The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team defeated Houston Baptist University (HBU) Saturday evening (Feb. 27), 77-76 at the Sharp Gymnasium in Houston, Texas.

The Lady Broncs opened up the game with a three-point basket by Bianca Torre just 21 seconds in the game. The Lady Broncs methodically built up their lead to as many as nine points in the first half. HBU battled back and erased the Lady Bronc's lead and took a three-point advantage after a three point basket by Raquel Jones with 3:14 left in the half with the score at 31-28.

The Lady Broncs came back and took the lead on a three point basket by Sherrell Davis with: 36 left in the half but HBU went into the locker-room with a one point lead after a basket by Jamie Spriggs to close out the half with the score 35-34.

The second half started the same way the game did, a three point basket by Torre, putting the Lady Broncs up, 35-37. The lead would change three times before HBU built their lead to 10 after a layup by Spriggs with 6:12 left in game making the score 69-59. The lead would change two more times before the Lady Broncs would go up 75-74 after two free throws by Torre with :36 left in the game. The Broncs went on the win the game, 77-76.

The Lady Broncs were led by Torre with a season high 24 points. Aleeya Grigsby recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Spriggs lead all scorers with 26 points followed by Raquel Jones with 17 and Taniqua Hollis with 11.

The Lady Broncs shot 41.5% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the three-point line and 62.1% from the free-throw line. HBU shot 50.9% from the field, 42.1% from behind the three-point arc and 70.0% from the free-throw line.

"We were down with six minutes left in the game and we got some crucial stops, we stepped up our defense," said head coach Denny Downing. " I felt we played well in those last six to seven minutes of the game, it was a team effort," added Downing.

The Lady Broncs return to action on Thursday (Mar. 4) when they travel to Vermillion, South Dakota to take on University of South Dakota.