AUSTIN, Texas (January 23, 2025) – After three straight five-point losses at home, The University of Texas Permian Basin Falcons hoped a change of scenery to central Texas would help them get back on track, but after leading for 18 and a half minutes in the first half, the Falcons suffered a rough second half and fell 78-59 at St. Edward's University.

The UTPB defense came up with a steal on each of St. Edward's first two possessions of the game while Kamari Portalis had two steals in the first three minutes of the game. Portalis then hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Falcons a 12-4 lead four minutes in.

With her third assist of the opening period, Taysha Rushton found Makala Bingley in transition for a 3-pointer to make it 17-10 with three minutes left, but SEU closed the first quarter with a buzzer beating layup to make it a one-possession game (23-20).

The two teams combined to miss the first eight field goal attempts of the second quarter before another 3-pointer by Bingley two minutes in made it 27-20.

A transition three by Morgan Helgesen assisted by Nikki Green made it 34-28 with 3:25 left in the first half, and then an offensive rebound by Helgesen saw her kick the ball out to Rushton, who found Bingley in the corner for her third 3-pointer of the first half to make it 37-30 with 2:21 left.

However, after SEU only held a lead for 30 seconds in the first half, another buzzer beater by the Hilltoppers, this time an off-balance 3-pointer, gave SEU a 40-39 halftime lead.

After ending the first half on a 10-2 run, SEU opened the second half with an and-one on its first possession, leading to a 9-0 run to open the period and giving the Hilltoppers a 10-point lead (49-39) with under six and a half minutes left in the third quarter.

Portalis finally ended the Hilltoppers' run with a tough two-point jumper with six minutes left in the period.

In all, SEU would outscore UTPB 23-10 in the third quarter and led by 15 points (60-45) after another and-one with two minutes left in the period. UTPB turned the ball over seven times and allowed SEU to shoot 57.1 percent in the decisive third quarter.

The Hilltoppers continued to clamp down defensively as UTPB did not make a field goal in the fourth quarter but was 10-for-14 from the free throw line in the period.

After making 6-of-11 3-pointers in the first half, the Falcons were 0-for-5 from distance the rest of the way.

In addition, UTPB would commit a season-high 19 turnovers in Lone Star Conference competition this season.

SEU, meanwhile, shot at least 50 percent from the field in all four quarters and scored at least 20 points in each of the first three quarters. The Hilltoppers' 52.8 field goal percentage and 47.1 3-point field goal percentage were both the highest allowed by the Falcons so far this year.

Janiah Perkins scored a career-high 31 points for the Hilltoppers while for the Falcons, Bingley and Portalis led with 11 points each.

Rushton finished with six points, six rebounds and four assists; and Khiara Flugence added seven points a matched a game-high with eight boards.

UTPB falls to .500 overall on the season (9-9) and is now 7-5 in the Lone Star Conference after starting 7-1. With its third win in a row, St. Edward's is now 9-11 overall and 5-6 in the league.

The Falcons remain on the road to face St. Mary's University on Saturday, January 25, at 1 p.m.