71-61 Loss At UTPA Drops CSU Women's Hoops To No. 4 Seed

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EDINBURG, Texas – Despite 26 points on eight 3-pointers off the bench from sophomore Tierra Williams (Detroit, Mich./Lathrup), Chicago State women's basketball dropped a 71-61 decision at Texas-Pan American on Saturday (March 9) evening.
 
The contest concludes the regular season for the Cougars and puts them at 2-6 in Great West Conference play this season. The setback drops Chicago State to the No. 4 seed in the GWC Tournament. The Cougars will play No. 5 seed Houston Baptist on Thursday (March 14) at the Jones Convocation Center.
 
The first 13 minutes of the game was back-and-forth with the lead changing five times and being tied on six occasions. The Broncs then closed the half on an 18-8 run, giving UTPA a 38-28 halftime advantage.
 
In the second half, back-to-back layups by sophomore Jackie Jones (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) cut the UTPA lead to just three points at 44-41 with 12:20 to play. A little over two minutes later a pair of free throws by Paris Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville) made it a 48-46 game. It would be as close as the Cougars would get. UTPA scored the next four points to regain some breathing room.
 
Tierra Williams (Detroit, Mich./Lathrup) finished 8-of-19 from 3-point land. Her 26 points ties a career high she set against Utah Valley on Feb. 23. Williams is just the second GWC player to make eight 3-pointers in a game this season. Utah Valley's Tina Doughtry also connected on eight attempts vs. Walla Walla on Feb. 4.
 
Jones finished with 16 points and five assists for Chicago State. Paris Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville) added a double-double of 11 rebounds and 10 points. Cassandra Moody led UTPA with 20 points.
 
Chicago State shot 37.3 percent (19-of-51) from the floor. UTPA finished the contest shooting 26-of-52 for exactly 50 percent.
 
UTPA ends the regular season 12-15 (4-4 GWC). Chicago State is 4-25 (2-6 GWC). Thursday's game against Houston Baptist in the GWC Tournament will start at 7:30 p.m. CT at the Jones Convocation Center on Chicago State's campus.