Nov. 5, 2006

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - A 7-0 run by Stonehill (Mass.) to open the game held up in the 76-68 win over West Texas A&M in the final contest of the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic.

The Lady Buffs were able to get the Stonehill lead down to two with 3:23 to play in the first half, but Stonehill went on a 12-2 run to end the first stanza and take a 42-30 lead into the locker room.

In the first half, WTAMU shot 45 percent from the field and 42 percent from lone range, but the Skyhawks converted 17-of-32 field goals and were five-of-eight from three point land. The Lady Buffs also turned the ball over 16 times, while getting their pocket picked eight times.

To open the second half, WTAMU went on a 11-0 run to take the short lived lead at 45-44. The Lady Buffs were able to it tie the game up one more time at 47, but after that Stonehill held on to leads by as much as 11.

Individually for WTAMU, sophomore Mariah Willis (Odessa, Texas) had a game-high 23 points off the bench and was named to the all-Tournament team. Classmate Emily Brister (Amarillo, Texas) followed Willis up with 20 points and also was named to the all-Tournament squad. The final double digit scorer for the Lady Buffs was another sophomore, Courtney Lee (Arlington, Texas), who came away with 13 points and gave out six assists.

Meanwhile, Stonehill had five athletes score in double figures, led by Erika Stupinski, who netted 12 points. Three others scored 11 points and a fourth chipped in with 10.

Overall the Lady Buffs shot 41 percent from the field, while pulling down 35 rebounds and getting 16 steals. Stonehill put up 51 percent from the floor, grabbed 30 rebounds and only had 11 steals.

WTAMU now falls to 2-1 on the season, while Stonehill improves its record to 3-0. The next action for the Lady Buffs will be the home opener against St. Edwards at 6 p.m. in the First United Bank Center on Friday, Nov. 24.