Feb. 5, 2004
Box Score
MONROE, Louisiana - Rola Ogunoye scored 16 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, but it was not enough as the shorthanded Texas-Arlington women's basketball team fell 57-49 to Louisiana-Monroe Thursday evening at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
UTA was playing without three players, including two starters, who were suspended for leaving the bench during an altercation against Lamar last Saturday.
The Lady Mavs (11-9, 5-3 SLC) came out slow in the game's first two minutes and quickly found themselves down by four points before back-to-back field goals by Ogunoye and Tamesha Graves quickly tied the score up.
The Lady Indians (12-8, 8-1 SLC) leading scorer NIna Randle gave the lead back to ULM before picking up her second foul just four minutes into the game and sitting out the remainder of the half. UTA would use a three-pointer by LaToya Lewis and a sweeping left-handed hook shot by Melanie Lane to open up an 11-8 advantage.
ULM would open up a 20-15 lead with 9:06 to play in the half on a Stephanie Williams three-pointer, but would go scoreless over the next 6:24 with the Lady Mavs going on an 11-0 over that span. Freshman point guard Terra Wallace, making her first collegiate start would start the run with a short jumper and Lewis would connect on another triple before Ogunoye would score the game's next six points to put UTA up by six.
After ULM would get as close as two points, UTA would quickly push the lead back to six points before holding a three-point lead in the halves final seconds. Tojjinay Thompson's desperation shot would come up short, but Graves would be in the right spot to put it in just ahead of the buzzer to give the Lady Mavs a 32-27 lead at intermission.
As been customary to start the second half, UTA allowed the Lady Indians to come out on a 10-2 run to open up a three-point lead with 14:27 to play in the contest.
The Lady Mavs would gain the lead for their final time just seconds later as Ogunoye would connect on a field goal and Lewis would hit a pair of free throws.
Over the next 7:31, ULM would go on a 13-0 run to open up an insurmountable 12-point lead with only 6:14 to play in the game.
UTA would as close as six points, but it was too-little-too-late as ULM would connect on free throws down the stretch for the eight point decision.
Ogunoye was joined in double figures by Lewis with 13 points. For the second straight game, Lane pulled down 13 rebounds. As a team, UTA combined for 11 blocked shots with Lane blocking five and Ogunoye swatting away four. Christy Brown led ULM with 13 points.
For the game, UTA shot 21-for-68 (309), but only 7-for-34 in the second half. The Lady Mavs were also 0-for-10 from behind the arc in the second half.
The Lady Mavs return to action on Saturday, Feb. 7 as they return to Texas Hall to take on Southeastern Louisiana. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. and is part of a doubleheader with the
