Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs women's basketball team held off a late run by the University of New Mexico Lobos to open the season with a 61-59 victory on Friday in the opening game of the Maggie Dixon Classic, hosted by DePaul, at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
 
Sophomore Shawnte' Goff led the Broncs (1-0) with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Juniors Rickell Preston and KaeLynn Boyd scored 12 points each. It was a career-high in scoring for Preston, who also added a career-high nine rebounds.
 
Antiesha Brown led the Lobos (0-1) with 19 points. Khadijah Shumpert finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
 
The Lobos led 4-1 in the opening minutes, but Goff hit two baskets and a pair of free throws to send the Broncs on a 9-0 run that made it 10-4 six minutes into the game. The Lobos tied the game at 10-10 three minutes later on a Cherise Benyon layup, but Preston hit a layup and then Goff nailed a layup and a three followed by two Preston free throws as the Broncs again scored nine-straight to take the lead. Boyd his a pair of three-pointerss in the following minutes to turn it into a 17-1 run that saw the Broncs go up 27-11 at the 6:06 mark.
 
The Broncs' lead grew to as many as 19 twice in the first half, first on a three by senior Tonisha Walker that made it 33-14 with 4:49 remaining, and then on a pair of Goff free throws 50 seconds later that made it 35-16.
 
The Lobos started chipping away in the second half, pulling to within single figures for the first time on a Brown layup that made it 49-40 with 9:41 to go.
 
A Bryce Owens layup made it 56-51 with 5:34 left, but the Broncs used four Goff free throws to power a 5-0 run and push their lead back out to 10.
 
The Lobos closed the game on an 8-0 rub over the final four minutes, but Owens' three-point attempt with 11 seconds left missed and Goff grabbed the rebound to end the game.
 
The Broncs face No. 18 DePaul on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Support UTPA Women's Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow the Broncs on Twitter | Follow the Broncs on Instagram | Follow the Broncs on YouTube