box score
 
SAN ANGELO – The University of Texas of the Permian Basin converted 23-of-28 free throws and out-rebounded Angelo State 37-18 which proved to be the difference in the Falcons' 71-62 win over the Belles. 
 
Even though Angelo State made more field goals and turned the ball over 11 fewer times than UTPB, it couldn't make up for its poor free throw shooting as the Belles made just 13-of-25 from the line for 52 percent. 
 
Tammy Acosta, who scored a game-high 19, got the bulk of her points from the charity stripe as she made 14 of the 18 free throws she attempted, 12 of which came in the second half. 
 
The Falcons led for nearly the entire game and when they weren't, they never trailed by more than two points.  They jumped out to an 11-4 lead after a three-pointer by Teisha King before Angelo State used a 7-0 run to tie it at 11 with 12:18 left in the first.  Cassi Stegall gave the Belles their first lead of the game when she hit her only three-pointer of the contest with 10:14 to go before the half, giving them a 15-13 edge.  They would only take the lead two more times in the half before Acosta hit two free throws with 5:34 to go before the break, giving the Falcons a 21-20 lead. 
 
Taniqua Ards gave the Falcons a 25-20 lead with just under three minutes to play for two of her 14 points on the night.  UTPB would go into halftime with a 31-27 advantage. 
 
The teams went back-and-forth to open the second half as the game was tied seven times before Ards hit two free throws, giving UTPB a 49-47 lead it would not lose the rest of the way.  Her free throws were part of a 14-3 run which gave the Falcons a commanding 60-49 lead with 5:23 to go. 
 
The Falcons had an 11-point advantage with 18 seconds to play after a free throw by Acosta, but a jumper by Stegall with 11 seconds to go cut the deficit to nine. 
 
Four players finished in double-figures for the Falcons with Lauren Unger putting in 15, hitting 5-of-6 three-pointers.  King added 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. 
 
UTPB will remain on the road as they head to Kingsville to face Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday at 7 p.m.