UT Permian Basin Women's Basketball showed up in a big way against St. Mary's on Monday, cruising to a 68-43 win in San Antonio, TX. Ogechi Nwodo led the Falcons with 18 points and eight rebounds. Kamari Portalis had 16 points while Morgan Helgesen and Rory Carter finished with 12 points each.
 
The Falcons got off to a slow start offensively as they took a 4-3 lead early in the first quarter. They kept the game within striking distance as Rory Carter ended the quarter hitting two threes to end the quarter down 15-12.
 
In the second quarter the Falcons turned up the pace and were very much rewarded for it. After a Rattler basket the Falcons went on a 13-3 run to take the lead 25-20. In that run three shots from beyond the arc were made by three different players. Nwodo outscored the Rattlers herself 7-3 in the final three minutes of the half for the Falcons to take a 32-25 lead into the locker room.
 
Out of the locker room Morgan Helgesen scored the first five points of the half to start a 14-3 run for the Falcons and push their lead to 46-28.  The Rattlers were able to make a rally and cut the deficit to nine points, but the Falcons outscored the Rattlers 22-9 in the fourth quarter to secure the road victory.
 
The Falcons found ways to score from everywhere as they had 28 points in the paint while shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc. Carter finished going 4-for-4 from three and Morgan Helgesen finished 3-for-6 from downtown. The Falcon defense forced 27 Rattler turnovers and scored 25 points off those turnovers.
 
The Falcons will host Texas A&M International on Thursday in the Falcon Dome. Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the Falcons all season long.