Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs women's basketball team led by as many as 12 while giving the No. 5 Texas A&M University Aggies all they could handle in a 63-61 loss to close out the Maggie Dixon Classic on Sunday at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
 
Senior T'Ondria Nolen led four Broncs (1-2) in double-figures scoring with a career-high 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-3 from behind the arc, with five rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Sophomore Shawnte' Goff scored 13 points with a game-high three steals. Freshman Hildur Björg Kjartansdóttir scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-4 from behind the arc, with a team-high nine rebounds. Senior Brittany Bush also scored 10 points, doing so on 5-of-11 shooting with five rebounds and one block.
 
Courtney Walker led three Aggies (3-0) in double-figures scoring with 17 points. Taylor Cooper scored 11 points while Jordan Jones finished with 10 points. Achiri Ade grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
 
The Broncs outshot the Aggies .421 (24-57) to .379 (22-58), including .577 (15-26) to .364 (12-33) in the first half while building a 40-33 lead.
 
Khaalia Hillsman scored on the first possession of the game to put the Aggies up 2-0, but a pair of Bush layups bookended a 10-0 run that included three-pointers by Kjartansdóttir and senior Cha'zaye Wright to make it 10-2 Broncs.
 
The Aggies closed to within 12-8 on a Jada Terry layup, but a Kjartansdóttir three sparked a 10-2 run as the Broncs pushed their lead to 12 at 22-10 on a three by junior KaeLynn Boyd with 12:54 remaining in the first.
 
The Broncs led 29-20 two minutes later on a Nolen three, but a Cooper three kicked off an 8-0 run as the Aggies climbed to within one. Goff responded a pair of baskets as part of a 9-0 run that saw the Broncs push their lead back into double-figures at 38-28 with 4:15 to go.
 
The Aggies didn't take the lead back until the 13:49 mark of the second half, when Walker hit a jumper to make it 44-42, but Goff and Nolen responded with layups to put the Broncs back on top. Still, the Aggies continued their offensive and defensive turnarounds, going up 57-48 on a Terry layup with 5:27 left to cap a 24-8 run to open the half.
                                                                                             
The Broncs made a comeback attempt of their own over the final 4:38, as a Nolen three and buckets by freshman Stephanie Onyeje, Boyd and Goff brought the Broncs within two at 59-57 with 2:12 remaining.
 
The Broncs had a chance at the end, down two with 1.8 seconds left and the length of the floor to go, but Onyeje's heave at the buzzer missed.
 
The Broncs play their home opener on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Texas A&M-Kingsville at the UTPA Fieldhouse. Doors open at 6.
 
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults – $5
Senior Citizens and High School Students – $4
Children – $3
UTPA Students, Faculty & Staff – Free

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