The University of Texas of the Permian Basin women's basketball team used a quick start on offense as it picked up its fourth-straight Heartland Conference win Saturday afternoon with a 76-68 defeat over Newman.
 
The Falcons (10-5, 4-1) hit their first four shots of the game, sinking a 3-pointer from Jocelyn Cook, a Teisha King layup and a jumper from Briannah Matthews before Newman had a chance to get on the scoreboard. Another three from Giselle Loya put UTPB ahead 10-2 just two minutes into the game.
 
The Falcons led by 10 halfway through the first half as a Taniqua Ards layup put the team ahead 25-15.
 
UTPB used a 6-0 run with a pair of baskets from Matthews and a layup by Clarissa Davis to pull ahead by 14 points with 3:40 remaining in the half, and the Falcons led 40-31 as the Jets finished off the half with a 7-2 advantage.
 
Matthews was perfect in the first half, hitting all six of her shots from the field to lead the team with 12 points.
 
The Jets made a game of it quickly in the second half, scoring the first eight points after halftime to pull to within a single point. Newman kept the score to within a possession or two for most of the first 10 minutes of the second half until a pair of free throws from Naderra Carey and a King layup put the Falcons ahead 55-49.
 
UTPB kept Newman from getting closer than four points until an 8-0 run ending with just over two minutes left put the Falcons up 71-59.
 
Ards recorded her second double-double of the season, leading UTPB with 16 points while hitting all eight free throw attempts and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead all players, tying her season high. King added 15 points while dishing out nine assists, the most for a UTPB player in a game this season to go with eight rebounds.
 
Kianna Flannagan led all players with 26 points for Newman (6-11, 1-4).
 
The Falcons out-rebounded the Jets 43-31 on the day and hit 15-18 free throws compared to just 10-24 shooting from the line by Newman.
 
UTPB heads back out on the road next week, traveling to Austin, Texas, for a Thursday night game at St. Edwards.