box score

AUSTIN – Miesha Blackshear poured in a game-high 19 points while pulling down nine rebounds, while the rest of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin women's basketball team took advantage of 41 turnovers by St. Edward's.

Thanks to the abundance of miscues by the Hilltoppers, the Falcons tallied 23 steals, including seven by Blackshear and four by Tammy Acosta, who also finished with 10 points. Not only did the turnovers result in a field day defensively for UTPB, but also led to 43 points, including 26 in the paint.

The Hilltoppers kept the game close through the first part of the first half, taking a 20-18 lead after Brittany Ward hit a three-pointer with 8:07 before the break. A 12-0 run by the Falcons gave them a 30-20 lead and never looked back the rest of the way. UTPB would eventually take a 34-22 halftime lead.

UTPB would hold a double-digit lead the rest of the way and at one point led by 27 (76-49) with 2:22 to play after Missy Jackson hit a pair of free throws. St. Edward's closed out the rest of the game with a 12-2 run as Mykel Bradshaw hit the last bucket of the game with three seconds to play.

The Falcons finished the regular season with a 19-7 overall and 8-2 Heartland Conference mark and will be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament to be held in San Antonio on March 4-5.