The UTPB women's basketball team slugged it out with the visiting Lady Cardinals of Incarnate Word before coming up  just short, 61-58, in Odessa on Thursday evening.  The loss drops UTPB to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in Heartland Conference play.  Incarnate Word improves to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in conference action.

The Lady Falcons jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the opening four minutes of the contest and led for much of the first half of the opening stanza.  Incarnate Word then took the lead at 16-15 with 11 minutes to play and would lead by as many as six points at 26-20 with 6:30 to play.  The Lady Falcons would continue to battle back and after a few lead changes in the final minutes, the two teams entered halftime knotted up at 34-34.

In the second half, the Lady Cardinals would gradually stretch their lead to six points at 48-42 before an 8-0 run put UTPB in front at 50-48 with 9:30 to play.  The game would see-saw back and forth and the Lady Falcons led 58-57 with 1:14 to play.

A jumper by Cinnamon Kava put IWU up 59-58 with 52 seconds to play.  After a timeout, Tammy Acosta would commit a turnover with 24 seconds.  IWU's Nia Torru would convert two free throws to put the Lady Cardinals up 61-58.  A last second 60 footer by Miesha Blackshear would hit the top of the backboard and the Lady Cardinals escaped with the 61-58 victory.

As a team, UTPB struggled to put the ball in the basket as they converted just 34% of their shot attempts, including just 14% from long range.  UTPB did outrebound the visitors 35-34 and forced the Lady Cardinals into 25 turnovers.

Individually, the Lady Falcons were led by Tammy Acosta and Miesha Blackshear, who each tallied 10 points. 

The Lady Falcons will return to action on Saturday afternoon, December 19, 2009 when they host St. Mary's in their final contest before the Christmas Holidays.  Game time is set for 2:00pm.