UT Permian Basin women's basketball led by as may as seven points in the first quarter over one of the best teams in the nation, but #4 West Texas A&M turned it on over the final three quarters, outscoring the Falcons 63-36 in sending UTPB to a 75-48 loss in Odessa Tuesday night.

A Sierra LaGrande 3-pointer early in the first quarter gave UTPB its first lead 5-2, and the Falcons took their largest lead of the game with four minutes left in the first after a breakaway layup by Victoria Lopez after a steal by Nakedra Burke, and another Burke steal on the next possession led to a second triple by LaGrande for a 12-5 advantage.

The Lady Buffs held UTPB scoreless the rest of the quarter and tied up the game on a pair of free throws right before the end of the first 10 minutes.

West Texas A&M found its shooting stroke the rest of the game, hitting 55 percent from the field including 15-24 in the second half (62 percent) while holding the Falcons to just 29 percent on the night.

Lexy Hightower scored 14 of her West Texas A&M - leading 17 points in the second half, one of three Lady Buffs to score in double figures. She also led WTAMU with five assists.

LaGrande led all players in the game with 19 points, hitting 7-14 from the floor and 5-9 from 3-point range. Kristel Reid added 10 points off the bench, and Burke led the Falcons with 10 rebounds.

UTPB is back in conference play Saturday afternoon, facing Texas Woman's at 2 p.m.