UTPB women's basketball gave their best in attempting to come back from a 10-point deficit Wednesday night, but couldn't connect in the final minutes in a 77-67 home loss to Midwestern State.

The Falcons led early on, taking a four-point lead in the opening minutes on baskets by Keyondra White and Shaquiri Graham, and took a five-point lead on a three by Katreese Locket to hold a 9-4 advantage after five minutes.

UTPB stayed in the lead over the next minutes before Midwestern State claimed its first advantage of the night at 5:40, and the Mustangs scored five of the final seven points of the first to head into halftime holding it's largest lead of the first half at 38-33.

Giselle Loya pulled UTPB within two with a shot from behind the arc coming out of the break, but the Mustangs quickly pushed their lead back up to 10 points and held a sizeable advantage for much of the middle half of the second period.

UTPB made a game of it late, first closing to within five behind four free throws from Graham and a made attempt from the line by Valerie Barriga at 6:12.

The Falcons then cut the lead to four on two straight trips down the court, first on a layup by Locket followed by a basket from Barriga with 3:03 left, but couldn't get and closer as the Mustangs hit 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal a 10-point victory.

Locket led all Falcons with 17 points, and was backed up by Loya, Barriga and Graham who all scored 12 on the evening.

Andrea Carter led all scorers with 18 points for Midwestern State.

UTPB is back in action in the new year, hosting Texas A&M International Thursday, January 2 at 5:30 p.m.