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Jan. 13, 2005

Box Score

ADA, Okla. --- The West Texas A&M University got a second-consecutive game-high 17 points from senior guard Suni Jo Petty as the Lady Buffs defeated East Central University, 71-65, Thursday night in Lone Star Conference crossover action at ECU's Kerr Activities Center.

Petty, who netted a game-high 17 points in WTAMU's 61-58 win over Eastern New Mexico University on Monday, hit 4-of-9 from 3-point land and tied a game-high by dishing out four assists to lead the Lady Buffs who won for the first time in three trips to Ada, improving to 4-3 all-time vs. ECU.

WTAMU also improved to 9-4 overall, while ECU drops to 6-7 after losing for the third-straight game after having a five-game win streak.

The Lady Buffs shot a season-high 54.5 percent (24-of-44) from the field, including 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from behind the 3-point arc. WTAMU was also 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) from the free throw line.

ECU shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) from the field, including 6-of-20 (30.0 percent) from 3-point land, as well as 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Lady Tigers, who came into the game leading the LSC in rebounding, held a commanding 41-26 edge on the boards, including 24 offensive rebounds.

The Lady Buffs committed 21 turnovers, but forced 24 Lady Tigers turnovers.

Four other WTAMU players tallied in double-figures, as senior forwards Celeste Stevenson and Vasha Adams netted 13 points apiece, while junior guard Tiffany Lewis recorded a season-high 12 points to go with four assists and freshman guard Dixie Bell logged a career-high with 10 points.

ECU had two players in double-digits, led by Tenecia Miller's 16 points and Lacey Goldwire added 13 points.

WTAMU took a 12-8 lead with 14:48 to go on a fast break layup from Adams off a feed from Petty, capping a 5-of-5 start for the Lady Buffs, including a pair of 3-pointers.

ECU came back to take a 13-12 lead, then WTAMU went on on a 13-2 run, ending with eight-straight points, capped by a steal and layup from Adams to open a 25-15 lead with 6:53 left in the half.

The Lady Tigers clawed back to 25-23 with an 8-0 run, before Adams slowed the streak with a pair of free throws.

Petty hit two treys sandwiched around a pair of buckets from ECU's Kristie Dodgion and WTAMU took a 33-29 halftime lead.

The Lady Buffs shot 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) in the first half, including 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) from 3-point land, as Petty drained three treys to lead all scorers with nine points at the break.

ECU had a 22-12 rebounding advantage over WTAMU in the first half, but the Lady Buffs' defense forced 14 ECU turnovers and held the Lady Tigers to 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) shooting from the field in the first half.

The halftime lead swelled to 44-35 with 13:49 left in the game after back-to-back Petty treys, but ECU quickly tied the score at 44-all with a 9-0 run.

Clinging to a 51-50 lead, Petty hit a bucket, followed by an old-fashioned three-point play from Adams on a turnaround jumper in the paint to open a 56-50 lead with 5:10 to go.

ECU couldn't cut the gap under four points from there on out, as Bell hit a 3-pointer, and sophomore forward Keisha Monroe hit consecutive buckets from down low, taking feeds from Bell and Petty as the Lady Buffs held off the feisty Lady Tigers for the victory.

The Lady Buffs conclude crossover action by continuing on the road, heading to Durant, Okla., to face Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Jan. 15, as part of a doubleheader with the WTAMU men, as the Lady Buffs tip off at 6 p.m.

Fans can tune into WTAMU Basketball action on the Buffalo Sports Network on KGNC 710 AM or streamed on the internet at www.gobuffsgo.com.

WTAMU returns home on Thurs., Jan. 20, hosting Midwestern State University in an LSC South doubleheader at 6 and 8 p.m.

Contact the WTAMU Athletics Ticket Office at 806-651-4424 for ticket information.

-WT-