LUBBOCK, Texas (November 21, 2025) – In the opening game of the Fairfield Inn Classic hosted by Lubbock Christian University, the UT Permian Basin women's basketball team fell 75-53 against Southern Arkansas University.

SAU made six of its first nine shots of the game and turned three UTPB turnovers into six points off turnovers as the Muleriders went on a 10-0 run and raced out to a 12-point lead (17-5) less than five minutes in. The Muleriders' first 3-pointer of the game then made it a 20-7 lead with 4:18 left in the first quarter.

SAU took advantage of early fouls and attempted eight free throws (7-8) within the first seven minutes of the game and ultimately led by as many as 18 points (27-9) in the opening period (2:15 left).

UTPB was just 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) from the field and was 0-for-4 from three in the first quarter while SAU shot over 50 percent (10-19).

On the positive side, UTPB was 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the first quarter and made each of its first 14 free throw shots of the game.

UTPB would cut its deficit to 11 points three times in the first four minutes of the second quarter, and then got it to a nine-point game (38-29) as Camille Torrence went 2-for-2 at the line with 2:43 left in the quarter. Rihanna DeLeon added two free throws in the final minute to make it 40-31 at halftime.

Both teams were slowed down offensively in the second quarter, shooting below 27 percent from the field with five turnovers apiece, but the Falcons kept it at a manageable margin thanks to a 19-for-20 (95 percent) effort from the free throw line.

SAU hit a 3-pointer and a two-point pullup jumper on its first two possessions of the second half, but from there, the Falcons held the Muleriders to without a made field goal for over four and a half minutes. During that run of defense by UTPB, Crystal Jones grabbed an offensive rebound and converted on an and-one, and then at the end of the run she drained a midrange jumper from the baseline to make it an eight-point game (46-38) with four and a half minutes left in the third quarter.

SAU snapped its field goal drought with a 3-pointer with 4:18 left in the third quarter, but fouls began to play a factor as SAU had four players with four fouls heading into the later stages of the period. However, UTPB was not quite as sharp from the foul line as it was in the first half, making 7-of-11 shots from the line in the third quarter. UTPB was just 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from the field in the third period as well.

It was 53-44 SAU heading into the fourth quarter, and the Muleriders pulled away by outscoring the Falcons 10-0 in the first four minutes of the final period, bookending the run with a pair of 3-pointers. The run grew to 13-0 after another 3-pointer, making it a 22-point margin (66-44) and marking the largest lead of the game at the time.

UTPB did not score until over six minutes into the fourth quarter and was 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-3 from three to start the fourth quarter. DeLeon made UTPB's first 3-pointer of the game with under two and a half minutes to go, and then she added a second three in the final 30 seconds. It was the fewest 3-pointers for UTPB in a game since also making two on December 19, 2024, at UC Colorado Springs.

This one was all about the dominate first and fourth quarters for the Muleriders, which outscored the Falcons 29-16 in the opening period and 22-9 in the final period.

The Falcons made no more than three field goals in each of the final three quarters, shot under 29 percent from the field in all four quarters, and despite their success at the line, shot only one free throw in the fourth quarter.

UTPB finished at 84.4 percent (27-32) from the charity stripe, its best effort since putting up the exact same numbers during the NCAA South Central Regional against Adams State to end the 2023-24 season.

Kenadi Rising was the lone Falcon in double figures, shooting 8-for-9 from the free throw line and scoring 12 points while also leading the team with seven rebounds. Jasmin Holt (4-5 at the free throw line) and DeLeon (2-6 on 3-pointers) both added eight points. Five players scored in double figures for SAU, led by freshmen Hope Bump with 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from three.

It was the first game away from the Falcon Dome this season for UTPB (1-2 overall) while SAU (3-1), which was selected 10th in the Great American Conference (GAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, earned its first win against an opponent from the Lone Star Conference since 2015-16 against Texas A&M-Commerce (now East Texas A&M).

After making two 3-pointers in each of the first three quarters, the Muleriders sank five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and made 11 for the game. SAU entered the weekend leading the GAC and ranking 23rd in all of NCAA Division II in 3-point percentage at 39.1 percent.

In their second game of the Fairfield Inn Classic, the Falcons will battle against Southern Nazarene University again starting at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 22.