ODESSA, Texas (January 16, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's basketball team fell by just five points for the second game in a row, this time 67-62 against No. 18 nationally-ranked Lubbock Christian University on Thursday evening. The Lady Chaparrals outscored the Falcons 36-28 in the second half and held the leading team in the Lone Star Conference in 3-pointers made per game to a combined 0-for-6 shooting from three in the final two quarters to help secure the victory.
 
Taysha Rushton scored 17 points in the first half and led all players with 25 points on 4-for-8 shooting from three. Rushton entered the game leading the LSC in 3-pointers made (37) and ranked among the top-50 nationally in 3-pointers made per game (2.47).

Khiara Flugence (15 points, 7 rebounds) was the only other Falcon to reach double digits in scoring.

Avalon Munoz added five points, four rebounds and four assists while Nikki Green and Natalie Milwood both provided six points off the bench.

UTPB shot exactly 50 percent from the field in both the second (8-16) and fourth quarters (5-10) and dropped in 4-of-9 3-pointers in the second period. However, despite shooting its second-highest field goal percentage of the season against a conference opponent (44.2 percent), the Falcons also shot just 11-for-19 (57.9 percent) from the free throw line while LCU was a season-best 18-for-19 (94.7 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Falcons did limit an LCU squad that was leading the Lone Star Conference and was top-15 nationally in 3-point shooting percentage (36.3 percent) to just 26.9 percent (7-26) this time around. In addition, it was the end of a stretch of three straight games with 10 or more makes from three for the Lady Chaps.

UTPB also outscored LCU 34-20 in the paint and 12-2 on bench points, but was outscored 17-7 on second chance points.

An eight-point scoring outburst by Rushton early in the second quarter was followed by a layup and a 3-pointer by Makala Bingley to give the Falcons a nine-point lead (26-17) in the first three minutes of the period.

Tied at 48-48 entering the fourth quarter, it was then LCU who took a nine-point lead (59-50) four minutes in.

A tough jumper in the paint by Munoz got UTPB to within four (61-57) with three minutes remaining, but the Falcons proceeded to go just 1-for-2 during their three ensuing trips to the free throw line and twice missed at a chance to cut their deficit to two points. LCU, meanwhile, closed the game out by going 4-for-4 from the free throw line over the final 12 seconds.

UTPB Head Coach Rae Boothe spoke after the game and said, "We had an opportunity. LCU capitalized when we fouled, making 18-19 from the free throw line. We missed eight. That discrepancy along with LCU scoring 10 more points than us off second chances really hurt us. We need to improve both those areas immediately and get to work to prepare for a bigger, and pretty athletic, MSU team coming in on Saturday."

UTPB falls to 9-7 overall and 7-3 in the Lone Star Conference while Lubbock Christian (15-3 overall) now holds a 9-1 record in LSC play and leads the West Division with a perfect 5-0 divisional record.

UT Permian Basin will wrap up a four-game homestand against Midwestern State University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 18.