UT Permian Basin women's basketball held Fort Lewis to 19 first half points in holding a 28-19 lead at halftime, but the Skyhawks out-scored UTPB 37-22 in the final 20 minutes of a season-opening 56-50 defeat Friday afternoon in Portales, N.M.
In a first quarter where both teams struggled to remove the lid off the basket, Fort Lewis shot just 3-16 through the first 10 minutes.
Briana Caro hit a pair of three-pointers on back-to-back possessions halfway through the second quarter to put UTPB in the lead 24-17 with 5:12 to play in the half.
Caro scored the next points in the game three minutes later, connecting again from downtown, and
Jackie Perez hit a free throw on the back end of a pair at the line for a 28-17 lead with two minutes remaining in the first half.
The Falcons struggled to make shots after halftime, starting the third quarter just 1-10 from the field.
Fort Lewis took the lead for good on a 3-pointer with six minutes remaining in the game as the Falcons went scoreless the final 3:29.
Niva Taito led the Falcons with 14 points, hitting 2-4 from beyond the 3-point line. Caro added 13 points with seven rebounds.
Heather Crittenden led the Falcons with eight rebounds.
UTPB is back on the hardwood at Eastern New Mexico tomorrow, taking on South Dakota School of Mines at noon.
