Dec. 17, 2005
Box Score
ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Texas at Arlington women's basketball team held UCF without a field goal for 16:03 and went on a 35-7 run over that time to defeat the host Golden Knights 65-22 and capture the championship at the UCF Holiday Classic in Orlando, Fla.
The 22 points allowed are the second lowest point total allowed in UTA history since the team allowed 20 points to North Texas in the school's first ever game on Feb. 12, 1973. It was also the lowest point total ever scored by the Golden Knights.
The Mavs held UCF to just 6-of-35 (.171) shooting from the floor, including just 2-of-19 in the second half.
UTA (5-3) scored the first points of the game on a Maryann Abanobi layup, but UCF responded with five points from Francine Houston to take a 5-2 advantage 3:28 into the contest.
That would be the only lead UCF (2-7) would enjoy as Ashley Bobb would tied the score on a three-pointer just 20 seconds later and Erin Dixon would follow with her own triple. Tojjinay Thompson would crash the offensive glass for a putback and Terra Wallace would drive and convert a three-point play to give the Mavs a 13-7 advantage. A basket at the 9:26 mark by Shelby Weber would serve as the final field goal of the half for the Golden Knights.
Bobb started the rally with a jump shot from the top of the key and then got a long rebound and took it all the way to the basket. Abanobi followed with five points and Wallace four. Kristi Dudley got in the act as she got an offensive rebound off a miss as the buzzer was sounded and everybody else on the court stopped. Wallace would add a pair of charity shots before the Golden Knights would score their only other point of the half on an Amber Long free throw with 3.1 remaining in the first half and sent the teams to intermission with the Mavs ahead 33-10.
The second half was much of the same as the Mavs started the half with a three-pointer from Thompson and a field goal from Abanobi to open up a 29-point advantage. The Golden Knights got two more free throws from Long before four straight free throws from Bobb and Wallace pushed the lead to 43-12.
The next UCF field goal would come at the 12:25 mark on a bank shot from the foul line from Keunta Miles. Kristi Dudley would score the next three points from the charity stripe to help give the Mavs a 54-18 with 3:57 remaining.
The Mavs would be able to open their advantage to 37 points despite not making a field goal for 11:40. Candice Champion put an end to the drought with a basket inside before Ashley Cole hit two straight field goals to close out the scoring and send the Mavs to a 65-22 victory.
Wallace scored a game-high 16 points to lead three Mavs in double figures and earn tournament MVP honors. Bobb was also named to the all-tournament team after scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds. Abanobi was also in double figures with 11. Cole and Dudley led the rebounding charge with nine apiece, while Melanie Lane added eight. UTA outrebounded UCF 52-31 overall and 30-13 on the offensive end.
The Mavs return to hardwood on Dec. 19 against Florida. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CST at the O'Connell Center.
