EDINBURG – Abby Boone scored 10 of her 26 points in overtime, leading Troy State to a 98-90 win over the University of Texas-Pan American in the women’s basketball season opener for both teams at the UTPA Fieldhouse Friday night.

Boone, a junior from Dadeville, Ala., put the Trojans ahead for good at 91-90 on a three-pointer with 1:36 left in overtime.  Just 35 seconds later she gave TSU a four-point edge with another trey.  She iced the game, making four free throws in the last 15 seconds.

Boone’s performance overshadowed a furious second half comeback by UTPA.  Troy State took a 17-point lead just 55 seconds into the second half on a three-pointer from Boone and a lay-up by Tomekia Golatte.  But the Broncs outscored the Trojans 18-7 midway through the second half to take a one-point advantage.  Alexandra Gravel, who scored 21 of her game-high 27 points in the second half, made two treys to give the Broncs a six-point advantage with 7:37 left.

Over the last seven minutes the lead changed hands three times and the score was tied five times.  Kira McWalne scored on a lay-up with 21 seconds to go to give the Trojans the lead at 81-79.  But Alexis Williams came right back and made a lay-up in traffic with 15 seconds to go to force the overtime period.

“We tired down the stretch due to fatigue,” said Head Coach Kathy Halligan.  “They went to their bench a little bit more than we could afford to.  They (our starting five) were really meshing.  They got things done.  Alex was out the last game and struggled a little bit (tonight), but she found her shot again.”

Gravel’s 27 points was a career high, as were her six three-point baskets.  Freshman Naima Williams made a big impact in her first game with the Lady Broncs, posting a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.  Cheveron Terry (12 points) and Williams (10) also scored in double figures for the Broncs.  Boone led four Trojans in double figures with 26 points.  Golatte had 23 points, Chandra Bradford had 14 and Chaquita Alexander had 13.

The Lady Broncs (0-1) will return to action on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. against North Texas in the UTPA Fieldhouse.  Troy State (1-0) will take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Troy State Trojans vs. UT-Pan American Lady Broncs
UTPA Fieldhouse
November 19, 1999

Troy State (1-0)

No. Name                    FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A  TO BLK S  MIN
24  Rebekah Waters, f       1   3    1   1     0   0    0  0   0   2   3   0  1  0   2  23
31  Abby Boone, f           8   11   5   6     5   6    1  5   6   4   26  2  5  0   3  36
25  Tomekia Golatte, c      9   13   1   2     4   5    3  2   5   3   23  3  3  2   1  35
15  Chaquita Alexander, g   6   10   1   1     0   0    2  2   4   3   13  4  4  0   1  19
20  Sharin Milner, g        2   7    0   0     1   2    0  2   2   1   5   4  2  0   1  34
05  Kira McWalne            2   3    0   0     1   2    0  5   5   0   5   4  2  0   1  18
14  Aja Gates               1   6    1   4     0   0    2  2   4   4   3   2  0  0   1  22
32  Chandra Bradford        5   12   4   10    0   0    0  1   1   1   14  3  2  0   2  20
50  Jennifer Ehlers         2   2    0   0     0   0    0  1   1   1   4   0  3  0   0  6
55  Sarah Degrandl          0   3    0   0     2   2    1  2   3   0   2   0  1  2   0  12
    Team                                                1  2   3                           
    Totals                  36  70   13  24    13  17   10 24  34  19  98  22 23 4   12 225

Total FG% 1st Half: 18-29  .621   2nd Half: 18-41   .439   Game: .514     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-10   .400   2nd Half: 9-14    .643   Game: .542     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  2-3    .667   2nd Half: 11-14   .786   Game: .765     5

UT-Pan American (0-1)

No. Name                    FG  FGA  3FG 3FGA  FT  FTA  OF DE TOT  PF  TP  A  TO BLK S  MIN
05  Gravel, Alexandra, f    8   21   6   15    5   5    2  6  8    1   27  1  5  0   1  33
44  Baldwin, Senella, f     4   5    0   0     0   1    3  2  5    2   8   0  2  0   1  24
42  Buttery, Erin, c        1   4    0   0     3   4    1  2  3    4   5   2  3  0   1  38
13  Williams, Alexis, g     5   9    0   1     0   0    0  2  2    1   10  9  5  0   2  39
22  Terry, Cheveron, g      6   11   0   3     0   0    0  5  5    2   12  2  1  0   1  33
11  Thigpen, Ashere'        0   0    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    0   0   1  1  0   0  1
14  Sinnette, Radiajah      0   0    0   0     0   0    0  0  0    1   0   0  0  0   0  4
20  Smith, Michelle         1   1    0   0     0   0    0  1  1    0   2   0  2  0   1  7
21  Friedeck, Rachel        0   0    0   0     0   0    1  0  1    1   0   0  1  0   0  2
23  Valdez, Lea             3   6    1   2     0   0    0  1  1    0   7   0  5  0   1  13
33  Williams, Naima         6   14   0   0     7   12   8  2  10   3   19  0  3  0   1  31
    Team                                                3  3  6                           
    Totals                  34  71   7   21    15  22   18 24 42   15  90  15 28 0   9  225

Total FG% 1st Half: 13-31  .419   2nd Half: 21-40   .525   Game: .479     Deadball
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-9    .222   2nd Half: 5-12    .417   Game: .333     Rebounds
F Throw% 1st Half:  2-4    .500   2nd Half: 13-18   .722   Game: .682     1

Officials: John Franklin, Terry Capistron, Becky Salter

Technical Fouls: None
Attendance: 261

Score by Periods        1st   2nd   OT    Final
Troy State              42    39    17    98
UTPA                    30    51    9     90