The UT Permian Basin Women's Basketball defense came to play Thursday night at Oklahoma Christian.  They forced 37 turnovers, the third most in program history, and led for nearly the entire game in a 68-53 win over the Eagles.  The win was the 200th in the Head Coaching career of Rae Boothe.

Three players finished in double figures, led by Diavian Spencer's 16 off the bench.  Holly Hemmeline added 13 while Morgan Helgesen came up just short of a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Eagles took the lead early but a three by Spencer gave the Falcons their first lead just before the five-minute mark in the first quarter.  From there it was all Falcons as a bucket by Quaadman and a three by Hemmeline helped push the lead to nine.  The Eagles fought back and made it a 20-14 game heading into the second quarter.  Five points to start the quarter by Hemmeline helped increase the lead.  The Eagles made a run and cut the Falcon lead to just one, but a Spencer jumper and free throw by Naomi Pierce sent the Falcons into the locker room up 31-27.

Another five-point run by Hemmeline gave the Falcons some breathing room and a six-point lead.  Helgesen pushed the lead back to nine with a basket to match the largest leda of the game and the Falcons kept it there to end the quarter.  Free throws in the fourth quarter helped the Falcons balloon the lead to 14 and eventually an Avalon Munoz free throw made it a 16-point game down the strech, the largest lead of the night in the eventual 15-point win.

Munoz and Andreea Mancha added nine points each and combined to make 14 free throws.  The Falcons made 29 free throws on the night as a team.

The Falcons stay on the road to face Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 1 PM.  Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.