EDINBURG, Texas-A 23-6 first half run powered Texas-Pan American to a 77-60 victory over CSU Bakersfield in Western Athletic Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon.

CSUB (12-6, 1-2 WAC) led 13-7 when the Broncs (10-8, 3-0 WAC) mounted the charge that proved to be a game changer. UTPA led 45-28 at halftime after shooting 50% (16-of-32) from the floor in the first half. Texas-Pan American made six of nine three-point field goal attempts in the opening frame.

"UTPA did a good job of knocking down shots in the first half," said CSUB head coach Greg McCall.

Texas-Pan American took its largest lead of the game, 20, with 15:17 to play when the 'Runners began to chip away at the Broncs. The hard work paid off when CSUB cut the lead to 65-56 with 2:48 to go on a pair of Alyssa Shannon (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) free throws. The Roadrunners pressed, forcing a UTPA turnover which resulted in a Hali Ford (St. Louis, Mo., Moberly Area CC) basket. Seven would be as close as the 'Runners would get as the Broncs scored on their next two possessions, combined with the Roadrunners being force to foul, Texas-Pan American would result in the final 17-point margin of victory.

"I thought we continued to play hard and did a much better job on defense in the second half," McCall said.

CSUB was able to limit the Broncs to eight field goals (in 25 attempts) in the second half, but the Broncs were able to convert 22-of-30 chances from the free throw line. The Roadrunners could only must nine field goals in 32 attempts in the first half (28.1%) and were 19-of-61 (30.2%) for the game.

"We have to do a better job of executing on the offensive end," McCall said. "We need to be more patient and run through our sets."

T'Ondria Nolen led UTPA with 18 points. Shawnte' Goff and Rickell Preston each scored 17 to lead UTPA. Tyonna Outland (R-Sr., Compton, Calif., Lynwood HS) led the Roadrunners and all scorers with 24 points. It was Outland's 26th 20+ scoring game of her career and she is now eight away from the all-time scoring record (1,796, Katie McElree, 2002-06) at CSU Bakersfield.

CSUB returns home Thursday when CSUB hosts Missouri-Kansas City at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at vallitix.com.

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