Nov. 20, 2005
Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. - Terra Wallace poured in a game-high 21 points, including hit 4-for-6 from behind the arc, as the Texas-Arlington women's basketball team outrebounded LaSalle 23-12 on the offensive end enroute to their first victory of the season, 60-54, on the final day of the Image Depot Shootout.
"Our posts finally understood the scheme of getting inside position when we put a shot up," said head coach Donna Capps. "At first we weren't getting good position and it looked like a bad missed shot and the putbacks showed that we were continuing to improve."
After both teams struggled to get on the board in the game's first 2:16, UTA's Erin Dixon scored the first seven points for the Mavs and opened up a 7-3 advantage. A three-pointer from Ashely Bobb and a jumper by Tojjinay Thompson helped push the advantage to 12-5 at the 12:03 mark of the first half.
Back-to-back triples from Bobb and Wallace gave the Mavs an 18-9 advantage just past the midway point of the half. The Explorers slowly started to chip away at the deficit and went on a 9-2 run of their own to pull within two points at 20-18.
Wallace silenced the run with her second triple of the half and a pair of free throws to push the advantage back to six points. A three-pointer from Tara Lapetina and a pair of free throws from Antonia Gale, sandwiched around a Thompson putback, brought the Explorers to within three points in the final half minute. Kristi Dudley would give the Mavs a 28-24 advantage as she made one-of-two free throws after grabbing an offensive rebound with .9 seconds left in the half.
The two teams came out in the second half and traded baskets for the first 9:58 of the half until the Mavs finally strung two baskets back-to-back on a Wallace three-pointer and a Jamie Buxkemper follow of a missed shot.
The Buxkemper putback sparked a 6-1 run that pushed the advantage to its largest of the game at 13 points, 48-36. Wallace hit her fourth three of the game, followed by a Dudley free throw and a Buxkemper follow off a missed free throw.
A pair of free throws by Carlene Hightower and Melanie Gibbons would pull the Explorers within eight points. Another putback by the Mavs in the half, this time by Dudley, gave the Mavs a nine point advantage. Thompson pushed the lead back to double digits as she put an end to a 1:39 scoring drought with a pair of free throws.
The final minute turned into free throw practice for the Mavs as they converted three free throws in the final half minute to preserve the 60-54 victory.
"We got great leadership out of our returning players tonight," said Capps. "Our veterans showed a lot more class and we really worked on our transition and got our defensive intensity back. We still have a lot to work on, but we showed tonight that there is a lot to work with."
Thompson joined Wallace in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds. Dudley led the team on the glass with 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Carlene Hightower led the Explorers with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Mavs return to action on Nov. 30 when they travel to take on SMU. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Moody Coliseum.
