Feb. 15, 2005
The University of Texas - Pan American women's basketball team dropped a 69-47 decision to Texas A&M - Corpus Christi on Tuesday (Feb. 15) in Corpus Christi, TX. The Islanders were able to take advantage of the Lady Broncs, scoring 17 points off of UTPA's 20 turnovers in the contest.
The Lady Broncs started off slow as TAMUCC would have five second chance opportunities as they pursued the ball off the offensive glass to take the early 6-2 lead with 16:30 remaining in the first half. The Lady Broncs would try and keep things close after a lay-up by Dawnne Cheadle (Roswell, NM/Seminole State C.C.) would cut the seven-point lead to five midway through the half.
TAMUCC would control the tempo of the game and take its biggest lead of the half, 37-19, with 1:56 to go before intermission. A jumper from Tynesha Pierce (Houston, TX/Westfield H.S.) would cut the lead to 16 points as the teams headed into the lockerooms.
In the first half, UTPA converted on 11 field goals to TAMUCC's 12, but the difference came at the free throw line where the Islanders had the advantage converting on 11-14 opportunities while the Lady Broncs were 1-1.
"It's disappointing to see a game be so one-sided from the foul line when it's a heated rivalry and both teams are playing physical. That was a major part of why we ended up in a 16-point hole at half time. We sent their leading scorer to the line way too many times and she converted," said head coach DeAnn Craft.
In the second half action, the Lady Broncs were able to play consistent with the Islanders, but the first half deficit became too much to overcome as the team suffered the loss, 69-47.
"We were better rebounders in the second half, and we ended up scoring more field goals then them. I thought in such a rivalry game our veterans would set the pace, but it was our freshmen inside players who really gave superb performances tonight. I thought Tynesha had an all-around great game, and Dottie played with confidence for us inside," stated Craft.
Pierce was the teams leading scorer with 16 points and also added eight rebounds in the contest. Dottie Knerr (Winter Park, FL/Winter Park H.S.) finished with seven shooting 3-4 from the field. Leading the Islanders was Terra Andrews with a game-high 23 points on the night.
The Lady Broncs will have a second chance at the Islanders playing them next Tuesday (Feb. 22) in the UTPA Fieldhouse.
UTPA Sports Information
