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Life > Athletics > Basketball > 2002-03
News > February 20
PIONEERS
SWEEP SEASON SERIES OVER
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
DENTON,
TX—Texas Woman's University (8-15, 4-7
LSC) shot 47.8 from the field and made 24 of 35 free throw
attempts to run past Texas A&M University-Commerce (6-18,
2-9 LSC) 71-66. The Pioneers were led on the offensive end
by Jessica Springer (Kirbyville, TX/Blinn College), who
recorded a season-high 19 points, while Sonya Hodge (Eustace,
TX/Paris J.C.) chipped in with 11.
“Tonight, both teams battled back and forth because neither
us nor Texas A&M-Commerce could get into an offensive groove.
Being that is was such a close game, we needed to clean up
on the boards and Jessica Springer stepped up and did that
for us tonight. She hit some key shots and got two of their
post players in foul trouble,” head coach Devin
Gabbard said. “This was a good team win and that is what we need
to be doing at this point in the season. We need a couple more
wins like tonight to have a shot of making the conference tournament.”
After being down early in the first period, the Pioneers took
their first lead of the game at the 13 minute mark when Lauri
Engleman (Jewett, TX/Leon H.S.) nailed a three-pointer,
making the score 15-12. Both teams flip-flopped the lead back
and forth during the next nine minutes before Sonya Hodge converted
two free throws to put TWU in front by one, 30-29. Julie
Prescher (Valley View, TX/Valley View H.S.) and Daphne
Lyons (Flower Mound, TX/Louisiana-Monroe) both added
field goals in the closing minutes to give the Pioneers a 35-31
lead at halftime. There were 11 lead changes and seven ties
in the first frame, but TWU had the advantage because they
completed 48% of their shots compared to Texas A&M-Commerce's
36%.
Springer
quickly put TWU up by seven points, 38-31, to open the second
half when she converted a three point play.
The Lady Lions came alive with 17:29 showing on the clock and
went on a 7-0 run to knot the game up at 40-40 two minutes
later. The lead would change hands five more times until Springer
made a field goal with 6:16 left to go, giving TWU the lead
for good, 54-53. The Pioneers stretched their lead to six points,
66-60, with a minute left after Springer added two free throws.
TWU hit five of seven from the stripe in the closing seconds
to win the game, 71-66.
The Pioneers finished the game hitting 22 of 46 field goal
attempts (47.8%), three of 16 from beyond the arc (18.8%) and
24 of 35 (68.8%) from the stripe. Springer and Jennifer
Ferrell (Flower Mound, TX/Paris J.C.) both finished with
seven rebounds apiece to lead the team while Ferrell added
three assists to lead the team in that category as well. Texas
A&M-Commerce had three players in double figures with Chianti
Johnson leading the way with 17 points and seven boards.
Next
up, the Pioneers host their final home game of the 2002-03
season
as they play host to Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday,
Feb. 22. The game will begin at 7 p.m. with a short ceremony
at the end of the game to honor TWU's five seniors, Jessica
Springer, Jennifer Ferrell, Meaghan Lewis, Tiesha Wady and
Kristi Leard.
--www.twuathletics.com--
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