COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (December 19, 2024) – Playing in its final game before the holiday break, The University of Texas Permian Basin women's basketball dropped a 70-41 decision on the road in nonconference action at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

UTPB (6-5 overall) had just four made field goals in the first quarter while UCCS (7-4) made four 3-pointers and led by 11 points both halfway through the period (17-6) and at the end of the period (20-9). The Falcons would finish with four made field goals in both the third and fourth quarters as well.

After making just one of its last eight shots of the first quarter, UTPB made its first three shots of the second quarter, but was unable to close the gap and could not stop UCCS from expanding its lead to 14 points (29-15) after the Mountain Lions' second of four more 3-pointers in the quarter.

The Mountain Lions would double up the Falcons (34-17) with two minutes left in the first half and went into the locker room with an 18-point advantage (37-19). UCCS had 12 assists on its 14 made field goals in the first half.

The ninth 3-pointer of the game by UCCS again doubled up the score (42-21) in the first two minutes of the second half.

UCCS would finish the contest with 13 3-pointers while the Falcons were just 2-for-9 from long range.

One of those 3-pointers came in the fourth quarter from Madison Walters, who after playing in just one game earlier this season, checked in and scored six points in this go around for the Falcons. She was 2-for-2 from the field and is now averaging 7.5 points in her two appearances this season.

The other 3-pointer for UTPB came from Tamia Flores, who has connected on at least one 3-pointer in each of her last three games.

UTPB was led in scoring by Kamari Portalis with eight points. Portalis was 4-for-5 from the free throw line and scored eight points for the second time in the last three games for UTPB.

Among the starters for the Falcons, Avalon Munoz scored six points and Morgan Helgesen led the team with nine rebounds.

Despite 16 offensive rebounds for UTPB and winning the rebounding battle by one (38-37), it was UCCS' shooting efficiency and defense that made the difference.

In addition to shooting its lowest 3-point field goal percentage and its second-lowest overall field goal percentage of the season, UTPB also shot its second-lowest free throw percentage (5-11; 45.5 percent) of the year. On the other end of the court, UCCS shot 48.1 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three, the second-highest percentages given up by the Falcons this season.

UT Permian Basin is off until after the Christmas Break and returns to action on Friday, January 3, when it travels to Sul Ross State University for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.