Broncs overcome sluggish play to win GWC opener

EDINBURG — Whether it was the two-week layoff or a hangover from beating TCU, the UTPA women’s basketball team needed to overcome an uneven performance to beat Chicago State 43-39 on Thursday at the Field House.

Bianca Torre, who scored a game-high 21, hit five 3-pointers and knocked down four big free throws in the final seconds to lead the Broncs (8-11 overall) in their Great West Conference opener. The Great West does not have an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

“It was obvious that it affected us,” Downing said about the layoff. “(The Cougars) are hard to play against because they just pack it in playing the zone. We had been off for two weeks, and we just didn’t play confident tonight. We have to play with more confidence.”

The lack of confidence almost cost UTPA, as Chicago State led 37-34 with 3:25 left in the game after Janay Dockery (18 points) knocked down consecutive 3-pointers.

Torre, though, answered with her fifth 3-pointer to tie the game at 37.

“I guess I was kind of feeling it in a way,” said Torre, who was 5 for 11 from behind the arc. “I had the open shot, and I took it. I had confidence in myself.”

Torre also recorded a key assist to help UTPA take the lead for good, finding Adana Opara under the basket for a layup and a 39-37 lead with 1:06 left.

After the Cougars missed a layup, they were forced to foul, sending Torre to the line where she hit both free throws. The Cougars got to within 41-39 on a layup by Dockery but Torre hit two free throws again to seal the game 43-39 with 7 seconds remaining.

“I can’t say enough about Bianca tonight,” Downing said. “I don’t know how we’ll end up but every senior out there owes her. She carried them tonight.”

UTPA missed its first four shots and trailed 8-0 before Torre knocked down her first 3 with 15:46 left in the first half to make it 8-3.

After the game, the Broncs were cognizant they escaped what would have been a big letdown after they had beaten TCU two weeks ago. Chicago State is 2-16 overall and 0-1 in conference.

“There were bits and pieces where we just couldn’t get into a flow,” said Donna Jackson, who played all 40 minutes. “I think our intensity went up (as the game went on). We just couldn’t make shots.”

FREE THROWS: Jackson and Opara led the game with nine rebounds each. … UTPA had 26 turnovers. … All five 3-pointers UTPA made came from Torre.

Peter Rasmussen covers UTPA athletics for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via email at prasmussen@themonitor.com

Follow Peter Rasmussen on Twitter @parasmuss