With every point and possession at a premium Thursday night in Odessa, the duo of
Alexus Wykoff and
Ogechi Nwodo combined for 14 rebounds for UT Permian Basin Women's Basketball. As a team the Falcons outrebounded Eastern New Mexico 37-30 and added 20 points in the paint.
Neither offense could get going in the opening quarter of action, combining for just 16 points. The Falcon offense came to life a bit in the second. A pair of Nwodo layups got things going and gave the Falcons their first lead of the night. The teams traded baskets, but the Greyhounds knocked down a three before a fast break lay-in to close the half up 23-20.
The Greyhounds opened the second on a 5-0 run to push their lead to eight. The Falcons drew in closer on the strength of five straight points from Wykoff and back-to-back threes from
Holly Hemmeline. In the final minute of the quarter, Wykoff converted on a pair of free throws. On the ensuing Greyhound possession, Wykoff poked the ball lose and was picked up by
Morgan Helgesen. On the other end of the floor, Helgesen buried the three with one second on the clock to make it 37-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Greyhounds ran the lead back to six in the fourth quarter before another Hemmeline three swayed the momentum. On the next Falcon possession,
Rory Carter hit a corner three and Wykoff followed with a lay-up to tie the score at 47. They took the lead after Carter put back a missed three to give the Falcons the lead. The Greyhounds took the lead back in the final minute on a put back lay-up.
Kamari Portalis answered that basket with one of her own with 47 seconds left. The Greyhounds pushed the lead to four after a basket and made free throws.
Wykoff made a lay-up in the final seconds before the Greyhounds made one of two free throws. The Falcons had a chance at the final buzzer, but Munoz's three-point attempt was just left for the 57-54 final.
Wykoff led the team with 13 points. Portalis also finished in double figures with 10. Hemmeline had nine points, all from long range. The Falcons won the battle on the offensive boards with 16 to the Greyhounds 10.
The Falcons are back in action Saturday against No. 8 Lubbock Christian. Download the UTPB Athletics to follow the team all season long.
