March 11, 2004
Box Score
MONROE, Louisiana - It took 32 years of playing collegiate basketball, but the wait was well worth it as Texas-Arlington will play for its first ever Southland Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon after defeating Louisiana-Monroe 56-53 Thursday evening at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Lady Mavs will play the top-seeded Lady Demons of Northwestern State at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches, La.
UTA improved to 19-11 on the season, while the Lady Indians finished the season at 18-11.
The two teams were evenly matched throughout the entire game with neither team able to open up more than an eight point lead. The second half featured a game that was played within four points the entire half.
The Lady Mavs took the lead for good with 6:45 showing on the game clock on a pair of Rola Ogunoye free throws. Sheena Johnson would push the lead to four points before the Lady Indians would trim the margin to one point on a pair of Nina Randle freebies.
After both teams failed to scored on their next possessions, Krystal Buchanan brought the ball the length of the floor and drew a final with 38.5 remaining. The junior point guard calmly stepped to the line and sank both free throws for the three point advantage.
ULM quickly trimmed the lead back to one point before KaShayla Hawkins sealed the deal with a pair of free throws of her own.
Playing in her first game since the beginning of January, Hawkins stepped up large as the 5-4 guard scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in only eight minutes of action.
Domination of the glass was what propelled the Lady Mavs to the road victory. After being outrebouned 20-9 in the game's first few minutes, UTA reversed that trend and outrebounded the Lady Indians 54-45. Leading the way on the glass was the inside duo of Johnson and Ogunoye who pulled down 14 and 13, respectively. Both players recorded double-doubles as Johnson poured in a season-high 15 points and Ogunoye added 10.
Randle led the Lady Indians with 15 points and Kristy Brown added 13.
LaToya Lewis knocked down two three-pointers in the game to give her 66 on the season, tying her Stacie Terry for the school's single-season record.
The Lady Mavs will look for their first 20-win season since 1981-82 and only their fifth in school history as they vie for their first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
