CANYON, Texas (November 29, 2024) – In the first game of the Lady Buff Thanksgiving Classic on Friday, The University of Texas Permian Basin women's basketball team fell 70-65 against New Mexico Highlands University.

UTPB shot 31.25 percent from the field and was outrebounded 15-8 in the first quarter, but still led it 17-16 after making three 3-pointers in the opening period, including two early triples from Makala Bingley and Morgan Helgesen on the Falcons' first two made shots of the game.

After seven turnovers for NMHU in the first quarter, UTPB took advantage of nine more Cowgirl turnovers in the second quarter, held the Cowgirls scoreless for over four and a half minutes in the period, and did not allow a field goal until over six minutes into the quarter. Pairing with the strong defense, 3-pointers by Taysha Rushton and Helgesen helped stake the Falcons to a 15-point lead (32-17) at the 4:21 mark in the second quarter. It was a 15-1 start to the quarter for UTPB.

NMHU, however, was able to close the first half on a strong 12-1 run over the final 3:24 of the half, making it just a three-point game (35-32) at the break.

The big factor keeping NMHU in the game was rebounds, which were an 18-8 advantage for the Cowgirls in the second quarter.

NMHU cut it to a one-point game three times in the first five minutes of the third quarter, but a steal by Helgesen after a defensive board for the Cowgirls led to a layup for Mikalah Buckley, and then an offensive rebound and second-chance layup by Helgesen made it 45-40 Falcons with four minutes to go in the period.

Tied at 48-48 after a layup by NMHU on the first possession of the fourth quarter, a 3-pointer on its next possession gave the Cowgirls their first lead of the game.

UTPB took back the lead at 53-51 after a layup and a 3-pointer, both by Helgesen, on UTPB's next two possessions.

Unfortunately, NMHU's relentless effort on the glass combined with a long shooting slump by UTPB in the fourth quarter made it hard for the Falcons at the end.

Two free throws by Rushton with 7:38 left made it 55-53 Falcons, but that would be UTPB's final lead of the game.

A pair of second-chance, tip-in layups by the Cowgirls flipped the lead and made it 57-55 NMHU before two free throws by Avalon Munoz tied it at 57-57 with six and a half minutes to play.

After a driving layup by NMHU, Munoz went 1-for-2 from the line to make it 59-58 with under five minutes to go.

A stretch of nine straight missed field goals by the Falcons was finally stopped with a layup by Khiara Flugence, making it a 63-60 Falcons' deficit approaching the two-minute mark in the game.

A coast-to-coast layup by Munoz made it 65-62 with 1:50 left, but three times in the final minute the Cowgirls made at least one free throw to make it a two-score game after the Falcons had cut it to a three-point game.

In all, the Falcons were outscored 24-17 in the fourth quarter and 38-30 in the second half. In addition, NMHU shot 9-for-13 (69.23 percent) from the field and was 5-for-6 (83.33 percent) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

NMHU finished with a very impressive 58 rebounds and led the Falcons by a margin of 21 rebounds (58-37). Three different Cowgirls had at least 13 rebounds.

In addition, NMHU blocked eight UTPB shots in the contest, including four blocks in the final five minutes of the game.

The Falcons shot just 27.5 percent for the game and went 56.8 percent (21-37) from the free throw line as a 20-8 lead in points off turnovers was not enough.

Helgesen led UTPB with 16 points and seven rebounds while making three 3-pointers. She was followed by Rushton with 13 points and Flugence with 11 points and seven boards as well. Munoz dished out four assists.

It was the first matchup between the two teams since November 2015 as both teams are now 3-2 on the young season.

"We did not play well in any area of the game," spoke UTPB Head Coach Rae Boothe. "We got out-worked and shot poorly. We will have to do much better in every area of the game against a tough opponent tomorrow. I do have confidence in our ability to bounce back and respond well to this loss."

In their second game of the Lady Buff Thanksgiving Classic, the Falcons will battle against Adams State University starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 30. It will be a rematch of last season's 96-83 defeat for UTPB in the opening round of the NCAA South Central Regional.