UTPB shot lights out in the first half and led by as many as eight points in the opening 20 minutes, but Lubbock Christian rebounded in the second to out-score the Falcons 50-34 after halftime to take an 88-79 win over UTPB Saturday afternoon in Odessa, Texas.

The Falcons used the long ball to take a quick 9-2 lead in the first three minutes of action, getting 3-pointers from Giselle Loya, Zeslie Johnson and Brianna Dominguez to start the night 3-of-4 from downtown on a day where they ended the half 8-of-12 from long range.

Lubbock erased the lead with seven straight points of its own and eventually took a one point lead, but the Falcons rebuilt the advantage with a 6-0 run on back-to-back threes by Brianna Jones to lead 21-14.

UTPB led by as eight on a basket by Loya and putback layup by Shaquiri Graham for a 32-24 lead with 6:19 to play in the first.

The Falcons went into the half on a 5-0 run, capped by a basket from Zeslie Johnson with 10 seconds remaining to hold a 45-38 lead at the break.

The tables turned after halftime for both teams, as UTPB went from shooting 56.7 percent in the first half to just 32.4 in the second and Lubbock Christian increased its shooting from 42.9 percent to 65.5 in the second half.

A 15-2 run for the Lady Chaps in the first five minutes to start the second half helped LCU get back ahead and claim a 53-47 advantage.

UTPB was never able to retake the lead, but did tie the contest two different times int he second. A layup from Danielle Wilson and three from Valerie Barriga evened the score at 59-59, and another triple from Barriga two minutes later at 9:41 knotted the score at 63-63.

The Falcons couldn't get over the hump in the final 10 minutes of the game as Lubbock Christian increased a two point lead to nine on a 9-2 run with 5:45 remaining and held the Falcons at bay to close out the nine-point game.

Barriga tied for the game lead with 25 points, scoring 21 in the second half. Loya led all players with four 3-pointers in scoring 16 points, and Jones and Graham each added 11 points on the day.

Haley Burton led Lubbock Christian with 25 on the night while Nicole Hampton added 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field with a game-best 11 rebounds.

UTPB hits the road this week, traveling to Abilene, Texas, for a 5:30 p.m. Heartland Conference contest Thursday against McMurry.