Jan. 26, 2005
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Sophomore guard Terra Wallace scored 14 of her team-high 18 points in the second half and blocked Stephen F. Austin's Jaliyla Muhammad's shot with one second remaining on the clock to help UTA remain unbeaten in Southland Conference play with a hard fought 65-63 victory Wednesday evening at Texas Hall.
The win improved UTA to 12-6 overall and 7-0 in SLC play. The record is the best conference start in school-history. The loss dropped SFA to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in SLC play. The win was also UTA's fourth straight victory over the Ladyjacks at Texas Hall.
After starting the game only 4-for-19 from the field, senior guard Tabitha Wesley did what all good shooter's do, she just kept shooting. With the game tied 56-56 with 3:34 remaining, Wesley hit her third three-pointer of the game to give UTA the lead. SFA would get a layup from LaToya Mills to trim the lead to one-point before Wesley would take a kick-out pass from Ashley Bobb to hit her second straight triple to put the Mavs back up by four points.
A pair of free throws by Mills and one-of-two at the line for Wallace put UTA ahead 63-60 with 1:38 left in the game. Mills would again step to the line and make the first of two free shots before Bobb corralled the miss of the second one and was fouled. Bobb calmly walked to the other end of the court and knocked in both free throws.
Mills would become a permanent fixture at the charity stripe in the game's final moments as she made a return visit, making the first and missing the second on purpose. The strategy paid off as she knew where the carom would go and grabbed the board before getting fouled again in the act of shooting. She would make the first and miss the second to trim the UTA advantage to 65-63 with 18 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing possession, UTA's Krystal Buchanan was fouled, but missed the front end of the one-and-one and SFA grabbed the rebound. The Ladyjacks called a timeout with six seconds remaining, setting up the last play for Muhammad.
The two teams started the game by trading baskets at their respected ends of the court with Wesley's three-pointer giving UTA a 19-16 advantage at the 11:47 mark. SFA would then hold the Mavs without a point for the next 4:57 seconds in opening up a 27-19 lead.
UTA did not give up as reserve Maryann Abanobi got the offense back on track with a driving layup through the paint. Alex Bowman would push the lead back to eight points with a pair of free throws before a pair of Rola Ogunoye field goals and two free throws from Abanobi trimmed the deficit to just two points.
Muhammad scored to put SFA up four before Buchanan stole the ball at midcourt and raced for the breakaway layup and Ogunoye's layup tied the game up with just under a minute to play in the first stanza. Muhammad would hit two freebies and Stacy Szymanski had a putback at the buzzer to send the team's into recess with SFA ahead 35-31.
Wallace led four players in double figures as Wesley added 16 points, Ogunoye 14 and Bobb 11. Bobb had her third career double-double with a career-best 13 rebounds, four assists and tied her career-best with three steals. Wallace also dished out four assists and Buchanan recorded three steals. Mills led the Jacks with 23 points and 11 boards.
For the game, UTA shot 25-for-59 (.424) from the field and 7-for-18 (.389) from behind the arc. SFA was 22-for-48 (.458) from the field but went just 7-for-14 from the free throw line in the second half after going 9-for-9 in the first half.
UTA returns to action on Jan. 29 as they play host to McNeese State. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. at Texas Hall.
