Dutch Cowgill

Women's Basketball

#4 Women's Basketball Faces #1 North Dakota in Semifinals at 7:30 p.m.

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CHICAGO, Illinois -- The fourth-seeded Univerity of Texas-Pan American Broncs women's basketball team (13-16, 5-5 Great West Conference) face the top-seeded University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux (19-10, 9-1 GWC) in the semifinals of the GWC Tournament on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Jones Convocation Center on the campus of Chicago State University.

The winner advances to the championship game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against second-seeded Utah Valley University.

What You Need to Know

Broncs Postseason History: The Broncs are 2-2 all-time in the Great West Conference Tournament, with wins in the 2010 and 2012 quarterfinals … This is the Broncs' first meeting with North Dakota in the Great West Conference Tournament … The Broncs were 3-6 all-time in the National Independent Tournament … The Broncs competed in the Sun Belt Conference from 1991 through 1998 and the American South Conference from 1987 through 1991, but did not win a conference tournament game.
 
UTPA vs. North Dakota: The this is the ninth meeting all-time between the Broncs and North Dakota in a series that dates back to 2007 … The Broncs have picked up two wins in that time … The Broncs fell at North Dakota earlier this season, 93-60 (2/4), and followed that up with a 60-58 loss at the UTPA Fieldhouse (2/23) … The Broncs have won three-straight since then … After missing the first game, LaQuita Garner played 18 minuets, all in the second half, in the second game, scoring 10 points.
 
Wins Record in Sight: The Broncs are one win away from tying the program record for wins in a single season with 14. The Broncs have done it twice, during the 2004-05 (14-14) and 2008-09 (14-16) seasons.
 
Historic Three-Year Stretch: The Broncs are in the midst of their winningest three-year stretch in program history with 38 wins. The mark was previously achieved with 36 wins from 2006 through 2009 under former head coach DeAnn Craft. Current Broncs head coach Denny Downing is off to the best three-year start by a coach in program history, recording 13 wins in his first season, 12 in his second season, and 13 so far this season. Craft held the previous mark with 34 wins in her first three seasons, with marks of 13, 14 and seven wins.

Last Time Out

#4 UTPA 57, #5 Chicago State 51 (3/8/12):
  • The Broncs picked up their first-ever win against the host school during the Great West Conference Tournament.
  • The Broncs advanced to the semifinals for the second time in three years.
  • The Broncs led by as many as 20 points midway through the second half, and although that lead shrunk to one late in the game, the Broncs did hold the lead for the final 37:58 of the game.
  • The Broncs opened the game on a 13-2 run.
  • Keandra Goodson recorded her third double-double of the season with a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Adanna Opara recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and a season-high tying 12 rebounds.
  • The Broncs out-rebounded the Cougars 43-24 overall and 12-6 on the offensive glass.
  • The Broncs out-shot the Cougars 46.8%-to-32.1%.

Season Series vs. North Dakota

North Dakota 60, UTPA 58 (2/23/12):
  • The Broncs out-shot North Dakota 39.7%-to-33.3% and hit half of their shots (14-for-28) in the second half.
  • The Broncs were 6-for-8 (75%) from the foul line while North Dakota was 18-for-28 (64.3%).
  • Bianca Torre scored eight of her team-high 11 points in the final 1:45, using a pair of three-pointers and two free throws to nearly bring the Broncs back from a seven-point deficit.
  • Johnondra Patterson recorded a career-high nine rebounds and dished out a career-high four steals while scoring eight points.
  • In her first game since January 21, LaQuita Garner scored 10 points off the bench.

North Dakota 93, UTPA 60 (2/4/12):
  • Keandra Goodson scored 12 points with seven rebounds in her first start since January 21.
  • Bianca Torre score a team-high 14 points while hitting all four of the Broncs' three-pointers and playing the full 40 minutes.
  • Erin Lewis set new season-highs in points (12), field goals made (4), free throws made (4), free throws attempted (5) and steals (3).
  • The Broncs held leads of 1-0 and 3-2.
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