EDINBURG, Texas--Cinthia Ramirez hit a baseline jumper with 2.2 seconds left to lift the University of Texas-Pan American to a 59-57 win over North Dakota State University in a Division I independent women's basketball game played Thursday, Jan. 25, before a crowd of 850 at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

The last-second turnaround jumper with a defender in her face was the first bucket and only the second shot of the game for Ramirez. NDSU committed a turnover and didn't get off a last shot.

Lisa Bue had tied the game 57-57 with 14.7 seconds left on a short jumper in the lane. The Bison rallied from a 57-54 deficit after Aleeya Grigsby connected on a field goal. Emily Moran hit one of two free throws with 46 seconds remaining.

Brenda Slyt scored 16 of her game-high 23 points in the second half to spark the North Dakota State offense. The Bison overcame a 28-24 halftime deficit and eventually built a 41-36 lead with 11:35 left on a Slyt layup and free throw. She connected on 9-of-15 field goal attempts and 4-of-4 free throws.

North Dakota State took its first lead, 38-36, since early in the contest when Bue drained a three-pointer from the corner at the 12:13 mark. Bue scored 14 points, and added six assists, four rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocked shots.

The Bison held the lead for nearly eight minutes until LeKeisha Gray hit an off-balance jumper in the lane to put UTPA ahead 50-49 with 4:35 left to play. Gray led the Lady Broncs with 18 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the field. Tamara Vaughn scored 13 of her 16 points in the first half.

The biggest lead of the game was five points achieved by both teams. The score was tied on eight occasions and the lead changed hands six times.

Texas-Pan American hit 50 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 46 percent for the game compared to 37.9 percent for NDSU. The Bison outrebounded UTPA 36-31 with Kayla Dahlen pulling down a team-high six boards. The Lady Broncs' MaHogany Daniel recorded a game-high 10 rebounds. 

North Dakota State (7-9) is scheduled to play Utah Valley State (10-9) at 4:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Shurian Family Activity Center in Orem. The Wolverines lost 79-78 to South Dakota State on Thursday night. UTPA (9-12) hosts the Jackrabbits (14-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday in Edinburg.

NDSU and UTPA play again at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Bison Sports Arena.