UT Permian Basin used a crushing defense in the second half to stifle Western New Mexico as they earned a win in their Lone Star Conference opener.  The Falcons (4-2, 1-0) held the Mustangs (2-2, 0-1) to 5-of-22 and just 21 points in the second half as the Falcons pulled away to the 73-54 victory.
 
Neither team gave an inch in the opening 10 minutes, trading baskets with the largest lead being just five points in favor of the Falcons.  The second quarter was much of the same with the teams going back and forth.  A pair of Jordan Rogers free throws gave the Falcons a six-point lead, but a 7-2 Mustang run in the final two minutes sent the game into the half with the Falcons up 34-33. 
 
The Falcons caught fire coming out of the locker room, with a 16-3 run to pull out to a 50-36 lead.  It was all Falcons from there as they led by as many as 19 in the fourth quarter and the Mustangs couldn't get the lead down below 12.  The Mustangs shot just 2-for-14 in the third quarter, scoring just eight points against the Falcons 24.  The Falcons held their foes to just 3-of-17 from long-range in the effort and forced 34 turnovers. 
 
Lemia Ntor-Ue led the way offensively with 17 points and was 7-of-8 from the free throw line.  Holly Hemmeline quietly stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points and team-highs in rebounds with seven and assists with five.  She was tied with Alexus Quaadman with a team-high four steals.  Quaadman and Rory Carter added nine points apiece off the bench.
 
The Falcons put their four game winning streak on the line Tuesday night as they host Howard Payne at 5:30 p.m. before resuming Lone Star Conference play after Thanksgiving.