Dec. 16, 2005
Box Score
ORLANDO, Fla. - Terra Wallace scored 17 of her career-high 31 points in the second half as Texas-Arlington survived a second half scare from Troy to hang on for a 65-54 victory over the Trojans Friday afternoon in the UCF Holiday Classic. Wallace's 30-point performance marked the ninth 30-point performance since 1986, and the first since Rola Ogunoye against Texas State on Feb. 21, 2004.
After squandering an 18-point halftime deficit, the Mavs (4-3) led by only two points with 1:33 remaining. Wallace then took over the game as she would score the next seven points to put the game away. She started the spurt by hitting a three-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock expired and then hit four free throws down the stretch. Ashley Cole closed out the scoring with a pair of free throws for the 11-point final margin.
Troy (4-2) came out of the locker room in the second half and went on a 17-2 over the first 7:46 to pull within three points. Laura Lee Holman scored seven of her team-high 12 points during the run.
Ashley Bobb put an end to the run with a rebound and a tough conversion for a three-point play. A Melanie Lane free throw and a driving layup by Wallace pushed the advantage back to seven just moments later. The Trojans would score the next four points before both teams would go scoreless over the next 2:51.
Following the long drought, Wallace went on a personal 8-5 run to help open up a six point lead with just under three to play. Back-to-back buckets from Alecia Jones and Audrey Muse cut the lead to two before Lane took a feed inside and hit the short five-foot baseline jumper. Another layup by Jones cut the lead back to two before Wallace sealed the deal.
After giving up the first four points of the game and not scoring for the first 3:41 of the contest, UTA went on a quick 8-0 spurt sparked by two straight three-pointers from Bobb and a pull-up jumper by Cole.
The two three-pointers from Bobb would just be the start of the long ball for the Mavs as the team would go 8-for-11 (.727) from beyond the arc in the half.
A layup by Brandi Scott would pull the Trojans to within one point at the 12:59 mark, but that is as close as they would get as Tojjinay Thompson hit a three to push the lead back to four. Another three from Bobb and a Bobb layup off a nice feed inside from Wallace helped the lead grow to eight.
A Lane putback, followed by a Wallace triple sparked a 12-0 run to end the half. Lane would add a pair of free throws and Wallace added her fourth triple of the half before Maryann Abanobi scored the final points of the half at the one minute mark to send the teams to recess with the Mavs up 38-20.
Wallace added five assists and four steals to go along with her scoring. Her 10 field goals made and five three-pointers tied her career-best's set last season against Northwestern State in the SLC Tournament semifinals. She was joined in double figures by Bobb who tied her career-high with 16 points. Lane led the team on the glass with eight boards, with all coming on the offensive end. Holman was joined in double figures by Amy Lewis' 10 points.
The Mavs return to action tomorrow evening as they take on host UCF on the second day of the UCF Holiday Classic at the UCF Arena. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CST.
