BOX SCORE
VERMILLION, South Dakota – The University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball team could not hold on to a three point half time lead, shooting just 15% for the second half in a 57-42 loss to the University of South Dakota Saturday night at the DakotaDome. Saturday was the final game of a season long eight game road trip for Texas-Pan American.
The Broncs (9-14, 1-4) could not find their mark from the field early, while South Dakota (12-9, 3-1) was hot to begin the game. Annie Roche capped off a 13-4 game opening run for the Coyotes with a three-pointer, giving USD a nine point lead with 15:15 remaining in the half. At the 12:40 mark Teresa Case nailed a three for USD giving them a 10 point advantage at 16-6, their largest of the first half
The Broncs responded with a 13-4 run of their own to pull with a single point with 5:11 remaining in the period. Ashley Watson then nailed a jumper with 2:14 remaining tying the game for the first time at 26-26. Four possessions later the Broncs took their first lead on an Adanna Opara lay-up making the score 28-27 with 1:09 to play in the period. The Broncs would add a pair of Bianca Torre free throws and led 30-27 at the half.
UTPA increased their halftime lead to five with a Donna Jackson jumper at the 18:59 mark. The Coyotes began to heat up after that. Amber Hegge's three-point play with 17:46 gave the Coyotes a 33-32 lead. Two possessions later Hegge added another and-one giving USD the lead again at 36-34 with 16:19 to play, a lead the Coyotes would not relinquish. South Dakota began the half on a 26-4 run capped off by a Katelyn Edwards three at the 8:26 mark.
Torre would help the Broncs with a comeback attempt. UTPA scored seven straight points, six of which belonged to Torre to pull within 12 at 53-41 with 3:49 to play. The Broncs comeback ended there as they were held to just a single point over the final 3:48 of the game. UTPA was outscored 30-12 in the second half.
Torre was the leader on the box score for the Broncs as she scored 19 with four rebounds and two assists. Torre was the only Bronc to score in double-figures. Opara chipped in with eight points and five rebounds. Donna Jackson scored just five points, but hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds. Erin Lewis, who went into the weekend third in the nation in assists, did not score and dished out just two assists. The Broncs shot just 17% from behind the arc. The Broncs shot just 28% from the field for the game.
Hegge scored 14 of her team high 19 points, also bringing down eight boards and dishing out a team-high four assists. Roche scored 18 with three rebounds and assists, and was the only other double-digit scorer for the Coyotes. Jodie Boss hauled in a South Dakota best 11 rebounds.
The Broncs next match-up with be on Thursday night when they face Great West Conference rival Utah Valley. It will be the first home game for Texas-Pan American since December 28th. Tip-off for their game against Utah Valley is scheduled for 5:30 and is the front end of a GWC double header with the men's team.
