Feb. 12, 2005

ARLINGTON - Southland Conference leader Texas-Arlington used full court pressure and a season-high 22 points from senior Rola Ogunoye to defeat the Lamar women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, as the Lady Mavs posted their 14th straight home win with a 72-37 decision at Texas Hall.

The loss was Lamar's fifth straight, dropping the Lady Cardinals to 8-14 overall and 2-9 in SLC play. UTA upped its record to 15-7 for the season with a 10-1 league record. It was also the Mavericks' fourth consecutive victory over Lamar.

Lamar opened the game by scoring the first four points of the afternoon on baskets by Megan McDougald and Chelsea Gugliotta. UTA quickly responded, however, ripping off a 16-0 run over the next 4:26 to take a 16-4 lead. Ogunoye scored six of her 12 first-half points during the run, as the Mavs took command of the opening half.

After a 4:40 scoreless drought, the Lady Cards ended UTA's run on a lay-up by Shaquita Coffey. Texas-Arlington then used an 8-2 spurt during the next 3:18 to open a 24-8 lead for a 16-point advantage. Back-to-back jumpers by Bridgette Brackens helped Lamar cut the deficit to a dozen (24-12), but another offensive lull over the next 6:25 allowed UTA to open up as much as a 23-point lead.

The Lady Mavs outscored Lamar 11-4 in the final 8:07 to take a 35-16 lead into the intermission. Lamar out-rebounded UTA 24 to 20 in the first half, but a dozen Lady Cardinal turnovers led to 17 points for the opposition.

The second half was more of the same, as UTA took advantage of Lamar's shooting woes and outscored the Lady Cards 37-21 in the period. The Lady Mavs shot 56.0% (14-of-25) in the second frame, compared to only 31.8% (7-of-22) by LU.

UTA opened the second half with an 18-5 scoring frenzy in the first 9:11 to take a 53-21 lead. The Lady Mavs pushed their lead to many as 37 points, before winning by the 35-point margin.

Brackens, a junior from Waco, led Lamar with eight points, scoring four in each half. Junior Audrea Samuel added seven points and four rebounds, while Jana Mustard and Jameslon Knowles each chipped in with five points apiece.

Coffey, a freshman from Beaumont West Brook HS, pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds as the Lady Cardinals out-rebounded UTA 42 to 40 for the game. Sophomore LaToya Carson added nine boards, but the Long Beach, Mississippi native was limited to a season-low one point.

Lamar finished the game with a 28.8 field goal percentage (15-of-52), the second-lowest mark of the season. LU managed only 1-of-9 from three-point range (11.1%) and 33.3% from the charity stripe (6-of-18).

In addition to her game-high 22 points, Ogunoye also pulled down four rebounds and handed out three assists for UTA. Terra Wallace recorded 15 points and seven rebounds, while Tabitha Wesley finished with a dozen points and five rebounds. Krystal Buchanan had a game-high nine assists and three steals.

The Lady Mavs shot 45.8% (27-of-59) for the game, including a 34.8% clip (8-of-23) from beyond the arc. UTA also shot 58.8% (10-of-17) from the free throw line.

The Lady Cardinals return home for their next game, hosting Northwestern State in a 7 p.m. SLC contest at the Montagne Center on Thursday, Feb. 17.