Dec. 30, 2005

Final Stats

EDINBURG - Tamara Thompson scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but Texas State was out-rebounded 53-33 in a 76-63 loss to UTEP in the final game of the IBC Battle at the Border in Edinburg.

The Bobcats led by four at the halftime buzzer, but a 48-point second half sent UTEP past the `Cats, who fell to 8-3 on the year. UTEP improved its record to 7-5 with the win.

Texas State fell behind early on a 6-1 UTEP run to open the game, but the `Cats stormed back with a 10-4 run and a Joyce Ekworomadu layup with 14:39 to play that gave Texas State an 11-10 lead.

Later in the half, the Bobcats sparked a 12-0 rally with a Thompson jumper and an Erica Putnam three-point play to grab a 26-13 lead, but UTEP ended the half with a 4-0 run to trim the Bobcats' lead to 32-28 at the halftime buzzer.

The Miners closed the gap to one at the 18:03 mark in the second half and regained the lead with 17 minutes to go, using a 4-0 run to lead 37-33 with 16:07 to go.

Texas State regained the advantage, but UTEP went on its game-sealing run with 8:47 to play, fighting through a 51-48 Bobcat lead with an 11-0 run that made the score 59-51 with 5:58 to go in the game.

The Miners coasted over the final eight minutes, outscoring Texas State 17-12 on the way to the 76-63 win.

Thompson's 10 points led the `Cats, and four players scored eight in the 13-point loss.

Three Miners reached double-figures, led by Izabela Piekarska's 18 points. Both teams shot 37.9 percent from the floor, but UTEP hit 26-of-32 free throws to seal the win.

Texas State's next action comes Jan. 5, when the Bobcats open Southland Conference play at Sam Houston State.