Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - UT Arlington women's basketball won 63-56 in overtime at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday night at the American Bank Center. With the win the Mavs improve to 15-9 on the season and 10-3 in Southland Conference play, while the Islanders fall to 9-17 and 5-7.

Freshman Tamara Simmons led all scorers with 14 points, hitting 2-for-2 from beyond the arch. Senior Tiffeny Riles recorded her fourth double-double on the season with 10 points and 16 rebounds.

Two quick threes and a free throw gave the Islanders an early 7-0 lead, but the Mavericks battled back hitting 5-of-6 from the line and a jumper from Meghan Nelson to knot it up at 9-9 with 13:11 left in the first half.

UTA went on to build a three-point lead on a lay up from Maryann Abanobi, but TAMUCC countered with a 10-2 run to lead by five (20-15) with 6:15 left in the half.

Simmons hit back-to-back baskets from beyond the arch to give the Mavericks back a one-point advantage (21-20) with less than five minutes to play in the first half.

The Islanders scored on their next two trips down the court to take the lead back, but Riles answered with back-to-back layups on the Mavericks end of the court to put UTA ahead 25-24 with 1:22 left on the clock.

Elisa Beagle converted on a three point play with 51 seconds on the clock to give TAMUCC the 27-25 benefit at the half.

Abanobi came out of the break and hit a jumper to bring the Mavs even at 27, but the Islanders used a 6-0 run over the next four minutes to lead 33-27.

A layup from Sarah Davidson at the 11:08 mark gave the Islanders a five-point advantage, sophomore Kiarra Shofner hit a three to bring the Mavs within two (39-37) with 10:45 left on the clock.

Shaye Montgomery hit a tre for the Islanders with 32 second left in regulation to tie it up at 53-53. Abanobi attempted a shot for the Mavericks that rimmed in and out of the basket, and on the other end Nyesha Adams basket came one second to late sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, Abanobi scored a quick jumper followed by back-to-back layups from Candice Champion and Riles to put UTA ahead 59-53. In the closing minute of overtime, Shalyn Martin converted on a three-point play and Abanobi hit one from the line to secure the win for the Mavs.

The Mavs will continue Western Division play when they travel to Huntsville for a meeting with Sam Houston State on Thursday.