Jan. 6, 2005
Box Score
THIBODAUX, La. - Senior guard Tabitha Wesley scored eight of her nine points in a 11:32 span in the second half to spark a 19-5 run as Texas-Arlington escaped Stopher Gym with a 62-58 victory over Nicholls State in the conference opener for both teams.
The victory improved UTA to 6-6 on the season and 1-1 in Southland Conference action. The loss dropped NSU to 3-9 on the season and 0-1 in the SLC.
With the team trailing by three points with just over 13 minutes remaining in the game, the Mavs found their offense and went on a big run to come away with the victory. UTA quickly went on a 9-0 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Terra Wallace and Wesley. NSU put an end to the run with its first points in 6:54 on a Clemisha Mingo layup.
UTA would push its advantage even further as Wallace hit another jumper and Wesley followed with a driving layup and long jumper from the right corner. Following a pair of Krystal Buchanan free throws and another Wesley jumper, the Mavs held their largest lead of the game at 60-49 with 1:32 remaining.
The Lady Colonels did go away quietly as they outscored UTA 9-2 in the final 90 seconds to narrow the margin at the end and give UTA the 62-58 victory.
UTA jumped out of the gates quickly as Rola Ogunoye scored five points in the first 1:140 of the contest. After a Lady Colonels basket, Ashley Bobb joined the offense with the next five points on a three-pointer from the top of the key and another jumper to give the Mavs a 10-2 advantage.
NSU would get its offense going as it went on a 14-6 run over the next 6:42 to tie the score 16-16 at the 8:22 mark. Tamesha Graves would put UTA back ahead with a triple from the left baseline and Bobb would hit another jumper to push the advantage to five.
The Lady Colonels would continue to fight to stay in the game and Cristin Burdette converted a four-point play the score was all knotted up again at 26-26 with 2:36 showing on the first half clock. UTA would get a bucket from Wallace and a pair of free throws from Ogunoye to take a 30-29 lead into intermission.
The Mavs defense forced 12 first half turnovers and limited NSU to just 17 first half field goal attempts. The Lady Colonels made the most of their opportunities as they connected on 11 field goals and shot 64.7 percent in the half. UTA also made 11 first half field goals, but attempted 36 shots to shoot 30.6 percent.
Wallace led three players in double figures with 14 points. She was joined by Bobb's career-high 13 points and Ogunoye's 11, all coming in the first half. Wesley added nine and Buchanan added seven points, five rebounds and six assists. Ogunoye led the team on the glass with eight rebounds. Burdette led the Lady Colonels with 15 points.
The Mavs return to action on Jan. 8 when they take on Southeastern Louisiana. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at the University Center in Hammond, La.
