OREM, Utah – Senior Jasmin Dixon (Detroit, MI/Martin Luther King) (Detroit, Mich.) recorded a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds as second-seeded Chicago State captured a 60-48 win over third-seeded Texas-Pan American Friday night on the second day of the 2009 National Independent Tournament. The Cougars hiked their record to 16-12 this season, while the Lady Broncs fell to 13-14 on the year.
Freshman Natalie Marlowe (South Milwaukee, WI/South Milwaukee) (South Milwaukee, Wis.) gave CSU an early 7-4 advantage at the 15:09 mark with a three-pointer before UTPA scored four straight points on jumpers from Aleeya Grigsby and freshman Brittany Demery to take an 8-7 lead at 13:45. Sophomore Courtney Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) scored nine points as part of a 24-10 scoring drive which lasted over 12 minutes as the Cougars posted a 31-18 leading margin that concluded with a Dixon layup with 44 seconds left in the stanza. A pair of free throws by Robin Garrett with eight seconds remaining cut CSU's lead to 31-20 heading into the halftime break.
The Cougars scored nine of the first 15 points of the second half, including five points from sophomore Elana Wroten (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) (Chicago, Ill.), over a seven-minute span to increase their lead to 39-26 at the 13-minute mark after a Dixon jumper. UTPA pulled within eight at 38-31 just a minute later following a three-pointer from Epiphany Smith and a jumper by Esther Rose Jean, but CSU tallied a quick 9-4 scoring drive in four minutes to hike its advantage back to 48-33 after Dixon nailed two free throws at 7:38.
Demery tallied five points in helping the Lady Broncs score 11 of the next 15 points in 4:18 to close within 53-44 when Smith hit a pair of free throws with 3:20 left in the game, but the Cougars scored seven of the final 11 points down the stretch for the win.
Marlowe and Waldon added 12 points for CSU, while Wroten produced nine points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Jael Pena recorded seven points, four assists and four steals.
Jean recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead UTPA. Smith and Demery each added 11 points for the Lady Broncs, while Grigsby finished with eight points and six rebounds.
CSU advances to tonight's championship game against top-seeded Utah Valley at the McKay Center with a start time of 8 p.m.
~ CSU ~
