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SAN ANTONIO - For the first time in school history, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin will be represented at the NCAA Division II Regional Women's Basketball Tournament. The Falcons defeated St. Edward's 64-51 in the finals of the Heartland Conference Tournament giving them an automatic bid into the national playoffs.

UTPB struggled early from the field but finished strong to pick up its 21st win of the season, the most since joining the NCAA ranks three years ago. Like the semifinal game against St. Mary's, the Falcons had trouble hitting from the field as they missed four of their first five shots. They finished the game hitting 31.3 percent, their second-lowest percentage on the year, but took advantage of 21 turnovers by the Hilltoppers that turned into 24 Falcons points.

Despite beating St. Edward's by a combined 43 points in the previous two meetings, UTPB was lucky to go into the locker room with a 32-31 edge at the half after scoring the last four points of the period.

UTPB trailed by as many as nine in the first half after Shanae Lowrance made a layup in transition after a missed Falcon three-pointer to give the Hilltoppers an 18-9 lead with 11:57 left in the first. St. Edward's led 27-21 with just under six minutes to play, but a 9-3 run capped off with a 10-foot baseline jumper by Pasha Cornish tied the game at 30 with 2:21 to go.

The Falcons put their foot on the pedal in the second half as they opened with a 13-5 run to take a commanding 47-36 lead with 12:40 to go. A pair of field goals by the Hilltoppers brought the deficit to single digits, but Teisha King's layup gave UTPB a 50-40 advantage with 9:29 to go. The Falcons would hold a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Three players scored in double-figures with Missy Jackson leading the way with 12 points while Miesha Blackshear and Tammy Acosta had 10 each. Acosta was named to the Heartland Conference All-Tournament Team, while Blackshear was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

UTPB will compete in the NCAA Regionals at a date to be determined for next week at a site yet to be determined.