Dec. 3, 2005
Box Score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The starting backcourt for the Texas-Arlington women's basketball each posted career games as Terra Wallace poured in a career-best 28 points and Maryann Abanobi added a career-best 12 points as the Mavericks came away with a hard fought road victory over New Mexico State Saturday afternoon.
"Terrific win to get a road win against a team from the WAC," said head coach Donna Capps. "We go in and play people out of position due to some injuries and still pull out the victory. I think it was a terrific job by Terra, Maryann and Tojjinay. Those three guards exhibited a lot of leadership and I just think those three kids helped hold us together."
The Mavs (2-2) got off to their second straight quick start as they outscored the Aggies 7-2 in the game's first 2:10. Kristi Dudley got the scoring going with a pair of free throws and Terra Wallace followed with a driving layup for the old fashioned three-point play. Following a pair of Aggies free throws, a driving pull-up by Abanobi gave the Mavs the early advantage.
NMSU would battle back with an Irma Kmitaite triple and a pair of Jenean Ford free throws knotted the score 9-9. Abanobi would spark the Mavs offense again with another three-pointer and the lead would grow to as many as eight points on the third triple from Abanobi and a Candice Champion basket.
The pressure would remain on from UTA as five straight points from Wallace gave the Mavs a 28-17 advantage at the 5:07 mark. A three-pointer from Jayci Stone and free throw from Carla Denning cut the deficit to five points before Wallace and Erin Dixon would score the final seven points of the half to send the teams to the locker rooms with the Mavs ahead 35-23.
The Aggies (0-6) climbed back into the game to start the second half as the Mavs missed their first eight field goal attempts and two free throw attempts. NMSU was only able to connect on two field goals and only trim four points off the lead. Wallace put and end to the run with a steal and breakaway layup and Abanobi followed on the next possession and did the same to push the lead back to 12 points.
The lead would grow to as many as 15 points at the 12:15 mark before six straight Aggies points, capped off by a Sherell Neal steal and layup, but the advantage to 45-35 at the 10:49 mark. The Aggies would not go away as they battled to pull within eight points on a Neal layup at the 2:06 mark.
Free throw shooting down the stretch sealed the deal for the Mavs as they pushed their lead out to its final total of 12 points.
Wallace and Abanobi were the only Mavs in double figures. Dixon chipped in eight points before fouling out. Thompson pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds and Wallace added eight. The Mavs outrebounded the Aggies 50-36, including 20-10 on the offensive end. Neal led the Aggies with 13 points.
The Mavs return to action tomorrow afternoon as they take on UTEP at 3:05 CST at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso.
