Feb. 1, 2008

"The crowd really got into it," Coach DeAnn Craft said after the University of Texas-Pan American basketball Lady Broncs broke a seven-game losing streak Saturday over Longwood University of Virginia, 79-74.

LeKeisha Gray triggered the victory with 28 points but was held to nine in a furious second half. Robin Garrett scored 17 as 10 UTPA players contributed points.

The Lady Broncs will play again at 8 p.m. Saturday against Chicago State University, after the Broncs share a rare doubleheader in Edinburg against the same team.

The men's game starts at 6:05. There is one admission price for the two games on the UTPA campus.

Longwood trailed by just 73-72 with 2:56 minutes remaining. Gray nailed two free throws, then Garrett hit a crucial jump shot to make it 77-74 with 1:00 left.

Tiona Wilson clinched it by sinking two clutch free throws with 21 seconds left.

Amber Simps scored 15 to keep Longwood in the game, with four others in double figures.

The Virginians led early by 29-20 in the first 6:40 but the fired-up Lady Broncs held the lead most of the way under heavy pressure.

Gray and Garrett were the only Lady Broncs in double figures while Longwood had four. The Broncs made 22 of 27 free throws to the visitors' 14 of 24.

UTPA Sports Information