EDINBURG, Texas – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs women's basketball team led or was tied with the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders for 94% of the game (37:37), but Rayven Johnson hit a lay-up with 7.4 seconds left to lead the Highlanders past the Broncs 41-40 on Saturday at the UTPA Fieldhouse.
 
Johnson scored 12 of her team-high 13 points while recording eight of her game-high ten rebounds in the second half.
 
The Broncs (8-12, 1-1 GWC) led 25-9 after a LaQuita Garner jumper with 3:56 to play in the first half, but the Highlanders (8-11, 2-0 GWC) scored six-straight points to kick-off a 21-5 run to tie the game at 30-30 with 12:38 left in the game.
 
Adanna Opara hit back-to-back baskets to put the Broncs ahead 34-30, and Harlingen-native Bianca Torre hit a pair of three-pointers a little later to put the Broncs up 40-35 with 4:18 left. The Highlanders, however, scored the final five points, capped by Johnson's lay-up, and Donna Jackson missed her attempt at a buzzer-beating floater to end the game.
 
Torre led the Broncs in scoring with 14 points, hitting four three-pointers to move into second place in career three-pointers made at UTPA with 172, passing Cheveron Terry (169, 1997-2001). Next up is Alex Gravel (1998-2003), who hit 258. Torre also recorded four steals to up her career total to 163, moving into third place and passing Iris Garza (161, 1998-92). Next up is Naima Williams (1999-2003), who had 185.
 
Down 4-3 in the opening minutes, Jackson hit four baskets to power a 12-0 run that made it 15-4 with 12:12 remaining in the first half. After the Highlanders scored three points, the Broncs scored the next nine for a 21-3 run to take their largest lead of the game at 23-7 on a Keandra Goodson free throw with 5:38 to go.
 
The Broncs return to action on Saturday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m. when they visit Houston Baptist University.
 
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I classification. UTPA, formerly known as Pan American College and Pan American University, is a part of the University of Texas System of Schools. The Broncs compete in 14 varsity sports; men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis, track and field, and cross country, along with women's volleyball and men's baseball. In 1963, then known as Pan American College, the Broncs men's basketball program won the NAIA National Championship with a 73-62 victory over Western Carolina. In 2008 UTPA joined the new all-sports division of the Great West Conference.