UTPB women's basketball overcame a back-and-forth opening 40 minutes of action Thursday night to score the first nine points of overtime and leave Abilene, Texas, with a 77-67 Heartland Conference victory over McMurry.

The Falcons had trailed by as many as nine points early in the game but went into halftime trailing by three and kept the War Hawks in range the entire second half, falling behind by no more than four points and leading by five at 44-39 with 12:38 remaining as a result of a 10-1 run started on back-to-back 3-pointers by Brianna Jones and Giselle Loya.

Trailing 60-58 in the final minute of regulation, UTPB split a pair of free throws by Graham and Loya on consecutive possessions to tie the contest at 60-60 and each team committed a turnover in the final five seconds to send the came to an additional period.

UTPB controlled the game in overtime, scoring on each of its first possessions with a pair of free thros from Valerie Barriga, a three by Loya, a layup by Graham and a fast-break layup by Barriga after a steal to go up 69-60 with 2:38 remaining. McMurry could only cut the lead down to six before the Falcons close out the game with four points on three trips to the line for the 10-point win.

Loya was instramental from behind the arc for UTPB, hitting a season-high 6-of-13 attempts from deep to lead the Falcons with a year-best 24 points. Barriga and Graham each grabbed 11 rebounds on the night while Barriga also chipped in 17 points.

Keshia Collins led McMurry with a 19 point game and five steals.

The Falcons continue road play Saturday afternoon, taking on St. Edward's in Austin at 1 p.m.