Box Score OREM, Utah – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs women's basketball team improved to 11-8 for the first time in program history by beating the Utah Valley University Wolverines 59-52 on Thursday at the UCCU Center.
The Broncs' previous record for best 19-game start was 10-9, accomplished last season, in 2008-09 and in 1984-85.
The Broncs are now on a four-game conference-winning streak for the second time in program history, having previously done so last January, with the fourth win also coming at Utah Valley.
This is the fourth time the Broncs have won back-to-back conference road games, having previously done so in 2012-13, 2009-10 and 1992-93.
The Broncs will look to win five-straight conference games, three-straight conference road games, and sweep a multi-game conference road trip for the first time in program history on Saturday at 7 p.m. when they visit Grand Canyon.
The Broncs will also look to remain in first place, as they are tied with fellow 4-0 WAC team New Mexico State, which beat Grand Canyon 74-62 on Thursday.
Junior
Rickell Preston led the Broncs with 12 points and nine rebounds. Senior
Cha'zaye Wright scored 12 points with six rebounds.
Rhaiah Spooner-Knight led the Wolverines (7-11, 1-2 WAC) with 14 points.
Mariah Seals scored 13 points.
Karlee Norris grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds (six offensive).
The Broncs played strong defense, forcing 23 turnovers, which led to 18 points. By way of comparison, the Broncs only committed six turnovers, which turned into two Wolverines points.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 9-5 lead on a Norris jumper and still led at 12-10 after a Seals three. That's when Bush hit a jumper and Preston made back-to-back baskets to spark a 12-4 run as the Broncs went up 22-14.
The Wolverines pulled within four on a Spooner-Knight three-point play with 6:16 remaining in the first half, but a pair of Wright threes bookended a 13-0 run as the Broncs went up 37-20 four minutes later.
The Broncs led by as many as 18 three times in the opening minutes of the second half, including 45-27 on a jumper by sophomore
Shawnte' Goff. The Wolverines responded with an 11-2 run to pull within nine midway through the half, but a layup and a three by senior
Cherrell Price put the Broncs back up 52-38 with 6:05 remaining.
The Wolverines followed with another run, outscoring the Broncs 13-5 to make it a six-point game with 18 seconds left, but that's as close as they got.
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