box score

WICHITA, Kans. – The University of Texas of the Permian Basin women's basketball team forced 28 turnovers which led to 38 points and turned the ball over just eight times en route to an 84-79 win over Newman. The Falcons, who improved to 13-5 on the year and 2-1 in the Heartland Conference, now share a top spot in the league standings.

Despite being out-rebounded 56-37 and shooting 38 percent from the field, four different players scored in double-figures, while Miesha Blackshear picked up her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds while picking up six steals in just 27 minutes of action. Tammy Acosta led the Falcons with 16 points and seven steals, while Teisha King and Andrea Chavez added 15 and 10 points respectively. Not only did Newman dominate the glass, it also shot 49.2 percent from the field and made 11-of-15 free throws.

In the first half, Newman held the lead for the first 11:10 of the game until a three-pointer by Cashena Mathis with 8:50 to go before halftime gave the Falcons a 24-22 lead. UTPB would lead by as many as seven with 7:46 to go after Lauren Unger hit one of her three three-pointers on the night. The Falcons would eventually take a 41-39 lead at the break.

The second half saw both teams exchange buckets until Newman broke a 62-62 tie by going on a 5-0 run to lead 69-64 with 6:42 to play. The momentum wouldn't last long for the Jets as the Falcons used a 9-0 run to lead 73-69 with 4:15 to go after Blackshear made a layup. UTPB would not lose the lead the rest of the way and eventually led by seven, its largest of the game with less than two minutes to play.

The Falcons are now tied with Newman and St. Mary's with 2-1 league records. St. Mary's defeated UTPB while Newman escaped San Antonio with a win over St. Mary's. The Falcons will try to stay on the winning track when they face Oklahoma Panhandle State on Saturday at 2 p.m.