Box Score UTPB women's basketball struggled from the field in the first half, shooting just 20 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes as the Falcons dropped a 72-68 Heartland Conference contest to Texas A&M Internationa Saturday afternoon in Laredo, Texas.

The Falcons were held to just 7-of-34 from the field in the first half and trailed by as many as 14 points when the Dustdevils went ahead 22-8 after the first nine minutes of the game. UTPB was able to get back within five towards the end of the first half and went into halftime trailing by eight at 33-25.

UTPB turned its shooting around in the second half, hitting 50 percent both from the field (15-of-30) and from the 3-point line (6-of-12). Briana Jones closed the gap to four a minute into the secodn half with her first of five 3-pointers in the second half, but TAMIU had its lead back up to 11 points at 44-33 with 14:19 remaining in the game.

The Falcons were able to get a lead that stood at 15 points down to six with 56 seconds remaining on Jones' fifth 3-pointer in five attempts in the second half, but couldn't get closer until Giselle Loya hit a three to make it a 72-68 game with just five seconds remaining on the last posession of the afternoon.

Loya led UTPB with 18 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 4-of-7 from behind the arc on the day. Jones scored all of her 15 points behind the 3-point line after halftime while Valerie Barriga scored 15 points to go with four assists. Myangel Johnson led UTPB with 11 rebounds and contributed 11 points.

Keiona Mathews scored 31 points to lead all palyers for Texas A&M International while also leading the Dustdevils with 10 rebounds. Jessica Prieto also scored in double figures for TAMIU, adding 20 points on the afternoon.

UTPB returns home for the first time in three weeks Thursday night, hosting Lubbock Christian at 5:30 p.m.