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Jan. 29, 2005

Box Score

DENTON, Texas --- The West Texas A&M University Lady Buff basketball team erupted for a 32-8 second-half streak as they set a season-high output for points for the third-straight game, routing Texas Woman's University, 98-64, Saturday afternoon at TWU's Magee Arena in a Lone Star Conference South Division contest. It was the Lady Buffs' second rout in a row on the Pioneers' home floor and was WTAMU's 10th-consecutive win over TWU, improving to 22-3 all-time.

It was also the Lady Buffs' third-straight win and seven of last eight, improving to 14-5 overall and 5-1 in LSC South action, remaining near the top of the LSC South standings, setting up next weekend's showdowns with two of the top division leaders in Abilene Christian University and Angelo State University.

TWU lost its sixth-straight, falling to 9-9 overall and 2-4 in the LSC South standings.

The Lady Buffs had five players in double-digits for the second game in a row, led by senior forward Celeste Stevenson with 18 points. Senior guard Suni Jo Petty hit 5-of-5 from 3-point land in the second half to finish with 17 points, while junior guard Sassy Pyburn went for 16. Senior forward Vasha Adams posted her fourth double-double of the season and 10th of her career with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Keisha Monroe tallied 10 points to go with her seven rebounds, as WTAMU had a slight 35-34 rebounding advantage.

Stevenson dished out five assists, while Pyburn and senior guard Stephanie Williams doled out four apiece, as the Lady Buffs had 21 helpers on the day.

Pyburn and Stevenson had four steals each, while Adams added three, helping WTAMU tie a season-high with 22 swipes. Adams also had a game-high three blocks.

WTAMU shot a smoking 62.9 percent (22-of-35) in the second half, including a blistering 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from 3-point land, hitting all eight treys in the second half, hitting a perfect 8-of-8 after halftime. The Lady Buffs finished the game 39-of-73 (53.4 percent) field goal shooting and 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from behind the 3-point arc.

TWU was led by 5-4 sophomore sparkplug Matalya McBath with 23 points, including 18 in the first half, but was slowed by a leg injury in the second half. Ashley Browning tried to pick up the slack, scoring all 14 of her points after intermission, including four from downtown.

The Pioneers shot 36.5 percent (19-of-52) from the field, and matched WTAMU's 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point territory.

TWU committed 32 turnovers, which WTAMU converted into 36 points.

The Lady Buffs dominated inside, outscoring the Pioneers, 54-18, in the paint.

WTAMU's bench outscored its counterparts, 44-9, as 11 of the 12 Lady Buffs in uniform registered points.

The Lady Buffs and Pioneers started slow, as WTAMU mounted a 6-4 lead at the first media timeout at 14:54, but picked up the pace, with the Lady Buffs opening a 16-12 lead on a bucket from junior guard Tiffany Lewis at 11:12.

TWU bounced back to take a 23-20 lead with 8:37 left on a layup from McBath, only to have the Lady Buffs charge back, taking a 31-27 lead with 6:18 to go on a Stevenson basket.

After a 3-pointer from the top of the key from McBath to draw TWU with 31-30 at the 5:55 mark, WTAMU reeled off a 9-0 run. Stevenson started the streak with a bucket, then Pyburn hit back-to-back fast break layups, the first off a steal and assist from junior guard Stephanie Williams, the second on a dish from Petty.

After another steal, Williams was going in for a fast break layup when she was intentionally fouled by McBath, and hit one of the two ensuing free throws at 3:32. Pyburn capped the streak with a basket at 2:39, opening a 40-30 lead.

WTAMU took a 44-33 lead into halftime after sophomore forward Alicia Saunders had a putback with 22 seconds left and Stevenson hit a pair of free throws with 0.2 seconds on the clock after being fouled while taking a shot after getting a pretty pass from Pyburn.

McBath netted 18 of TWU's 33 first half points, while she was matched by WTAMU's Stevenson with 14 points.

The Lady Buff defense harassed the Pioneers into 16 first-half turnovers, including five by McBath, as WTAMU had a 19-8 advantage on points off turnovers.

TWU opened the second half with six-straight points, four off free throws and a layup to draw within 44-39 at 18:39, capped by a layup from Mandy Darwin, but McBath went down with an injury.

WTAMU called a timeout to regroup, and regroup they did, as Pyburn hit a trey from the left corner, then TWU's Browning responded with a 3, but then Petty found her range, hitting consecutive treys from exact same spot on the left wing. A TWU timeout didn't stop her, as she hit another 3 from the top of the key to open a 56-42 lead at the 15:31 mark.

Browning hit a 3-pointer to draw the Pioneers within 11, the closest they'd be for the rest of the game, as Stevenson countered with a layup, then another 3-pointer from Petty, this time trying the right wing.

Not even McBath's return could help TWU, nor slow WTAMU, as the Lady Buffs cranked up the defensive intensity, forcing 16 Pioneers turnovers in the second half.

Petty later went back to her hot spot on the left wing and hit to open the Lady Buffs' first 20-point margin of the game at 72-50 at 11:16.

With the score 74-53, the Lady Buffs went on a 14-0 run, mostly on fast break points, which included treys from Pyburn and sophomore guard Natalie Wheeler, and the rout was on, as WTAMU took a 88-53 lead with 7:30 left in the game.

The 35-point difference was the largest of the day, as the Lady Buffs reached that on two other occasions from there on out.

Reserve freshman forward Morgan Carrio, who was sick with the flu Thursday and Friday, hit a pair of free throws with 2:08 on the clock to surpass a new career-high.

Saunders hit a putback layup with 1:37 left in the game to give WTAMU its 96th point, surpassing its season-high for the third-straight game, and freshman forward Taly Jacobs capped the scoring with a baseline jumper with 8.6 ticks on the clock.

WTAMU returns home on Thurs., Feb. 3, hosting traditional rival Angelo State University, in an LSC South doubleheader with the men's team at 6 and 8 p.m.

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

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.

-WT-