Torre, Guzman bucking trends

EDINBURG — The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team was going nowhere fast. The Lady Broncs’ 71-47 loss to Rice on Dec. 4 dropped them to 0-8 on the season.

“I’m used to losing eight games in a season,” first-year Lady Broncs coach Denny Downing said jokingly. “I’m not used to losing eight in a row.”

Downing needed a change even if it meant going against his coaching philosophy. It was about this time when he decided to start two point guards — senior Marah Guzman and freshman Bianca Torre. Downing admits the idea of starting two point guards never seemed like a good idea.

“(Guzman) became a little more aggressive offensively,” Downing said. “It was really a lack of production form our bigger guards that kind of forced my hand to go with her. When she got her opportunity, she took advantage of it. Both of those kids are ball movers. That means the ball is moving when they get it.”

Guzman and Torre will help lead UTPA to the Great West Conference Tournament in Orem, Utah. The tournament, which begins with the men’s portion tonight, does not have an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The women’s portion begins Thursday when the Lady Broncs open against Houston Baptist.

Since starting Guzman and Torre, the Lady Broncs (12-16) have gone 11-6 and are the second seed in the tourney. Torre has started in 27 of 28 games for the Lady Broncs.

“I think when (Downing) started playing Marah, that is when the whole thing started to change,” Torre said. “We started winning a lot more and we started doing better as a whole.”

If their names sound familiar that is because they were former Rio Grande Valley high school standouts. Guzman helped lead Edinburg High to the 2005-06 regional tournament. Torre led Harlingen South to three regionals.

Not only have they proven to their coach that he could start two point guards but they have proven that a college team can find success playing Valley athletes substantial minutes. Guzman and Torre, though, are arguably two of the best come out of deep South Texas.

“I think it’s great that both of us are able to represent the Valley,” Guzman said. “Even though we come in as underdogs, we work hard and dedicate ourselves to prove that we have the ability to play collegiate basketball.”

Torre leads the Lady Broncs in scoring (13.3 points per game) and assists (119). Torre’s 63 3-pointers, 80 percent free throwing shooting and 56 steal are also tops for UTPA. Guzman, who transferred to UTPA before last season from Western Texas College in Snyder, is averaging 8.5 points and is second in assists (95).

“One of the things about recruiting kids from the Valley is that this should really be their home university,” Downing said. “With us being in a league now, I would think that would be attractive to Valley kids who can play Division I.”

Peter Rasmussen covers UTPA athletics for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.

Tournament Schedule

Great West Conference Tournament

Orem, Utah

McKay Center

Women’s Bracket

Thursday

Game 1: South Dakota vs. NJIT, 3:30 p.m.

Game 2: UTPA vs. Houston Baptist, 6 p.m.

Game 3: Chicago State vs. Utah Valley, 8:30 p.m.

Bye: North Dakota

Friday

Game 4: North Dakota vs. Game 1 winner, 1 p.m.

Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday

Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5 p.m.

Men’s Bracket

Today

Game 1: Utah Valley vs. UTPA, 3:30 p.m.

Game 2: Houston Baptist vs. Chicago State, 6 p.m.

Game 3: North Dakota vs. NJIT,  8:30 p.m.

Bye: South Dakota

Friday

Game 4: South Dakota vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.

Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8:30 p.m.