UT Permian Basin Women's Basketball showed how much potential their young roster has, taking #3 Texas A&M - Commerce in a battle into the fourth quarter.  The game was much closer than the final score of 81-60 indicated.  Facing one of the three remaining undefeated teams the Falcons (8-11, 5-8) trailed by just four early in the fourth quarter before the Lions (19-0, 13-0) pulled away late.

The Falcons were gunning early to pull off the major upset got out ahead behind five early points from Holly Hemmeline.  The Lions showed why they are one of the top teams in the country, fighting back and taking a five-point lead into the second quarter.  The Lions pushed their lead to nine and looked to pull away but the young Falcons wouldn't blink responding with a 10-0 run to retake the lead.  Rory Carter and Jordan Rogers each had a pair of jumpers and Alexus Quaadman sank a pair of free throws in the run that put the Falcons up 28-27.  The Falcons trailed 31-30 with 1:36 to go in the half but the Lions closed strong with a 7-0 run.

The Lions opened the second half with some hot shooting to lead by as many as 14.  Again the Falcons refused to go away against the number three team in the country.  Carter got the Falcon deficit back into single digits with a three-point play and Hemmeline followed with a three.  The Lions answered with a three-point play of their own but it was Hemmeline once again who calmly drilled another three.  Jada Berry knocked down a three of her own to make it a 54-51 game.  A pair of free throws later and the game went into the fourth quarter with the Falcons down just five.  Yazmin Batch answered a Lion basket, with a three to make it a four-point game but that was as close as things got as the Lions took over down the stretch after Carter fouled out early in the fourth.

Hemmeline once again led the Falcon offense with 14 points.  Carter bounced back after a tough night Thursday to score 12 points along with four steals.  Rogers had 10 off the bench.  Quaadman tied the program single-game record with five blocks to go along with six points and eight rebounds.  Batch finished with seven points and four rebounds.

The Falcons hit the road next week as they take on Eastern New Mexico next Thursday in Portales.