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The University of Texas of the Permian Basin women's basketball team kept pressure on the rest of the conference by picking up a 72-61 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith.  The Falcons are now 7-2 in Heartland Conference play and tied with Newman for the top spot.    
 
The Falcons finally found their touch from long range, hitting 9-of-19 three's with Tina Lira knocking down four.  Lira put in a career-high 12 points, nine of which came in the first half.  She was the spark the Falcons have been looking for as she not only made her buckets at key times, she also opened the second half with a three. 
 
Despite turning the ball over 17 times which led to 16 extra points for the Lions, UTPB used a balanced scoring attack as four finished in double-figures with Teisha King leading the way with 15.  The Falcons also relied on a solid inside game, which accounted for 26 points, 13 of which came from Cashena Mathis and Tammy Acosta. 
 
The teams exchanged buckets to open the first 10 minutes of action, but a 15-4 run gave the Falcons a 35-22 lead with 3:32 to go.  The momentum would last the rest of the game as UTPB never trailed after the surge.  The Falcons led by as many as 13 in the first half on two different occasions and would eventually take a 38-31 lead into the locker room. 
 
UTPB would lead by at least 10 points nearly the entire second half as the Lions would come no closer than six in the final period. 
 
The Falcons will take on Arlington Bible in non-conference action before heading to Goodwell, Okla. on Thursday to face Panhandle State.