UT Permian Basin women's basketball led by as many as 18 points and held on late as the Falcons won their Lone Star Conference opener 68-63 on the road at Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M.

The Falcons led by double digits for most of the game and were helped by a 6-9 start from 3-point range in the first half as Jackie Perez scored eight points in the first quarter while Sierra LaGrande was 2-2 from beyond the arc.

Perez ended the first half with 13 points while LaGrande scored 11 points as UTPB forced 18 turnovers by the Greyhoudns in the first 20 minutes.

Kayla Bretherton dominated scoring for the Falcons in the second half, scoring all of her team-leading 16 points in the second half to keep the Falcons in the lead as ENMU got within three points in the final minute.

UTPB ended the night forcing 31 total turnovers by Eastern New Mexico, scoring 35 points off of turnovers. The Falcons hit 9-19 from 3-point range on the night (47 percent).

The Falcons stay on the road Saturday, traveling to Silver City, N.M., for an afternoon game at Western New Mexico.