Of late Andreea Mancha has been a scoring machine for UT Permian Basin Women's Basketball.  She continued that trend on Saturday with a 28-point explosion, the most by a Falcon since Holly Hemmeline matched that total on January 11, 2020.  Mancha was everywhere for the Falcons adding seven assists and six rebounds at Colorado Christian.

It was Hemmeline who started the scoring with a three-pointer just six seconds into the game.  Avalon Munoz connected on a pair of free throws before a Mancha three put the Falcons up 8-0.  A 9-0 run by the Cougars put them in front temporarily before another Hemmeline three put the Falcons back in front.  The teams traded buckets and the lead before the Falcons were down 28-22 after 10 minutes.  The Falcons trailed by eight with three minutes left in the half before closing strong.  Mancha completed a three-point play before Hemmeline buried a three.  After an offensive foul on the Cougars, Morgan Helgesen got in on the action with a bucket to tie things at 44.  After surrendering a pair of free throws, Mancha connected on a lay-up just before the buzzer and sent the teams into the locker room tied at 46.

After falling behind by five to open the half, Mancha scored the next five to tie things again, before Munoz put the Falcons back in front.  After trading buckets a three by Diavian Spencer pulled the Falcons to back within a point entering the fourth quarter.  An 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter by the Cougars put them on top for good.  The Falcons fought back and trimmed the deficit to just five, but free throws down the stretch gave the Cougars the advantage in the 84-76 final.

Hemmeline added 12 points while Munoz had 11 in the effort.  Helgesen nearly had a double-double with seven points and 10 rebounds.  

The Falcons are back home next week to start Lone Star Conference play against Texas A&M International on Thursday.  Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.