A strong defensive effort helped the University of Texas of the Permian Basin women's basketball team to a 59-48 Heartland Conference victory Saturday night over Oklahoma Panhandle State.

UTPB (8-5, 2-1 HC) held OPSU to  just 11.5 percent shooting in the first half, limiting the Aggies to just three field goals en route to taking a 29-12 halftime lead. Teisha King scored 13 of her game-high 26 points in the opening 20 minutes, hitting 7-10 attempts from the free throw line as the Falcons made 15-20 free throws in the first half. UTPB also dominated on the boards in the first half as Briannah Matthews and Clarissa Davis each tallied six boards to out-rebound the Aggies as a team 28-13.

Oklahoma Panhandle State (3-11, 0-3) made a comeback in the second half, rallying from trailing by 19 as Taniqua Ards scored on UTPB's first possession after halftime to pulling to within 10 points on a Meagan Bell 3-pointer with 9:48 remaining.

UTPB kept the Aggies from getting any closer than nine points over the remainder of the game, matching them nearly basket-for-basket the next 10 minutes to win their second straight conference game.

King hit 8-14 from the field on the night to go with 10 points at the free throw line. Jocelyn Cook hit 2-3 shots and 7-8 from the line in adding 12 points and Ards chipped in 10. Davis grabbed 12 total boards to lead all players.

Rosa Quinonez was perfect on the night, hitting all three of her 3-point attempts and both of her free throws in leading the Aggies with 11 points.

The Falcons continue home action next week, hosting Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night at 5:30 p.m.