Powered 28 points in the third quarter  UT Permian Basin women's basketball  cruised to a 77-59 victory over Western New Mexico in Odessa.

Victoria Lopez led the way for the Falcons with a game and career high 21 points on 8-14 shooting.  Khali Pippins-Tryon added 16 points to go along with four rebounds.

Both teams came out in the first quarter shooting well with the Falcons going 10-14 and Western New Mexico going 7-10.  The Falcons used an 11-2 run to close the first period with six points from Lopez and five from Sierra LaGrande, leading 25-18.

Ciara Fields scored seven in the first quarter for Western New Mexico before picking up her third foul early shortening the Mustangs bench.  They would go on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to seven late in the second before a Kayla Bretherton jumper righted the ship for the Falcons heading into the half up 38-30.

The Falcons used a big third quarter to pull away outscoring the Mustangs 28-15 in the period.  Lopez led the way scoring 12 in the quarter on 5-7 shooting and knocking down 2 free throws.

The Mustangs fought back in the fourth drawing six early fouls as a part of an 8-2 run to start the quarter.  Lopez answered with a three-pointer and the Falcons never looked back.  The suffocating defense forced 20 turnovers and didn't allow a made three-pointer until 2:08 on the clock.

Four Falcons finished in double-digits with 11 points from Bretherton and 10 points from LaGrande, joining Lopez and Pippins-Tryon.  Jackie Perez led the Falcons with nine rebounds with four assists.

Jade Botelho led the Mustangs with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Fields added 16 before fouling out in the final minutes.

The Falcons take on Eastern New Mexico in a home show-down Saturday before hitting the road to take on West Texas A&M Tuesday night.