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Ekworomadu's Three with 1.4 Seconds Sends Texas State to WNIT Second Round as Bobcats Win 84-83
March 20, 2008
SAN MARCOS -
Joyce Ekworomadu dribbled right, pulled up and shot a fadeaway three pointer just over a Prairie View A&M defender that rattled in with 1.4 seconds left to give Texas State an 84-83 win over Prairie View A&M and send the Bobcats into the second round of the WNIT. The win marks the first-ever postseason win for either Texas State men's or women's basketball since the Bobcats moved to NCAA Division I prior to the 1987-88 season. It is also the first time a Southland Conference school has won a WNIT game since Northwestern State advanced to the WNIT championship game in 1995. Prairie View A&M led 82-76 with 43 seconds left before Ekworomadu hit a fadeaway three from the corner, cutting the Bobcat deficit in half with 29 seconds left. A quick foul sent Prairie View's Shavonne Smith to the free throw line, but Smith missed both of her shots to give Texas State the ball back. Victoria Davis hit a quick jumper to make it 82-81 Lady Panthers before Prairie View's Candice Thomas converted one of two free throws with 10 seconds left. Texas State then came down and found Ekworomadu on the left side for her game winner. The Lady Panthers controlled the first part of the game, opening with a 12-0 run over the first 3:32. The lead grew to 34-18 with 6:13 to play in the first half, but Texas State went on an 11-0 run that included eight straight points from Tamarra Evans-Sluga. A three pointer from Aimee Hilburn pulled the Bobcats within four at 36-32 with 3:02 remaining, but Prairie View closed out the half on a 9-2 run. Both teams traded baskets over the first seven minutes of the second half until Thomas hit a lay-up to give Prairie View a 58-43 lead with 14:16 to play. Kim Cessna answered with two lay-ups for Texas State, sparking a 21-4 run over the next 5:21 that ended with Brooke DeGrate tipping in a fast break lay-up that put the `Cats on top 64-62. The next five minutes saw three ties and five lead changes until Prairie View took a four point lead with 3:47 remaining. The Lady Panthers extended the lead to six with 1:44 in the game, setting the stage for Texas State's last minute rally. Ekworomadu finished the game with 20 points, including 15 in the second half, while Hilburn added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Marie Moser netted 10 points and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line for Texas State, including a pair of free throws with 1:29 remaining to bring the Bobcats within four at 80-76. Thomas finished with 40 points for Prairie View to lead all scorers while Twila Stokes added 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Panthers outrebounded the Bobcats 52-to-45 and attempted 15 more free throws, but Texas State finished 11-of-27 from three point land while Prairie View attempted only six shots from downtown. Texas State will now travel to Lubbock to face Texas Tech at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 22.
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