Jan. 9, 2006
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Junior guard Maryann Abanobi scored a career-high 16 points, but it was her two free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining that sealed the deal as Texas-Arlington rallied for a hard-earned 58-55 victory over Louisiana-Monroe Monday evening at Texas Hall.
The victory improved the Mavs to 8-5 overall and 2-0 in Southland Conference play. It also extended the nation's seventh longest active home-court winning streak to 21 games. The loss drops ULM to 8-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
With the game tied 50-50 with 5:56 remaining, Tojjinay Thompson drew a blocking foul on ULM guard April O'Neal who did not agree with the call and was called for a technical foul. Terra Wallace knocked down one-of-two foul shots and Thompson hit both of hers to put the Mavs ahead 53-50.
The lead did not last as Aishie Banks hit a pair of free throws and Michell Biley took a feed from LaJeanna Howard inside to give the Indians a 54-53 advantage with 4:26 left.
That advantage would serve as the last time the Indians would lead as Wallace would steal the ball and drive for a layup to put UTA ahead by one. Just moments later, Wallace would hit one-of-two free throws to push the advantage to two points.
The Indians remained calm and drew up a play out of the timeout and Aishie Banks went strong to the hoop and drew a foul. She stepped to the line and made the second free throw after missing the first.
With a one-point lead and 15 seconds remaining, UTA played keep away before Abanobi was sent to the line with the game-clinching free throws.
ULM got one last desperation heave, but Howard's shot came up short and the Mavs escaped with the victory.
The Mavs would get on the board first as Wallace would hit a pair of free throws before Maryann Abanobi would follow up her own miss in the paint and then follow with a pair of free throws for the early 6-0 lead.
ULM would score the next four points as Nedra Winston would hit two straight shots inside.
UTA would quickly respond by scoring the game's next nine points to open a 15-4 advantage. Melanie Lane scored the first six points on three straight possessions and Abanobi ended the run with a three-pointer from the left wing.
The Indians would not go away as they would respond against the Mavs zone defense as they trimmed the deficit to five points just under five minutes later. The Mavs would get the lead back to eight points on a Wallace free throw and a Kristi Dudley hook shot inside.
ULM would again fight back as back-to-back three pointers Renata Dorsey and O'Neal trimmed the Mavs lead to 22-20 at the 4:17 mark.
The remainder of the half saw both teams go back and forth with Dorsey giving the Indians a three-point lead before Wallace would tie the game back up with 44 seconds remaining.
Dorsey would again come calling with her second three of the half before a pair of Abanobi free throws sent the teams to recess with ULM leading 30-29.
The second half began just as the first half ended with the two teams going back-and-forth and Thompson tied the score with a layup in the paint and gave the Mavs a two-point lead with a second straight chip shot.
Trailing by one, UTA would storm back to take a three point lead as Jamie Buxkemper converted a layup and Wallace followed with the same. Five straight points from Howard, including a three-point play, gave the Indians back the lead at the 12:02 mark.
Five straight points from Wallace and Abanobi, sandwiched around a pair of Indian three-pointers tied the game and set the stage for the final 5:56.
Wallace led the Mavs offense with 20 points and seven assists. She was joined in double figures by Abanobi's 16. Ashley Bobb led the team on the glass with a game-high 10 boards, with Lane pulling down nine. Howard led ULM with 21 points and Dorsey added 10.
The Mavs return to action on Jan. 12 as they travel to take on Texas State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Strahan Coliseum.
