CANYON, Texas (November 28, 2025) – In the first game of the WT Thanksgiving Classic hosted by West Texas A&M University, The University of Texas Permian Basin women's basketball team came out on top in a tightly-contested matchup against New Mexico Highlands University. In the end, the Falcons won by a final score of 57-53 over the Cowgirls on Black Friday.

Jasmin Holt (11 points) was the lone Falcon in double-figure scoring. Madison Walters added eight points while four Falcons scored seven points.

It was another low-scoring game, but the Falcons were able to separate themselves from the Cowgirls on points off turnovers, the offensive glass, and by getting fouled. Despite only shooting 58 percent from the line, the Falcons shot 31 free throws (18-of-31), including 14 in the fourth quarter (8-of-14). It was UTPB's second game this season with at least 30 free throw attempts. NMHU, meanwhile, shot 12-of-19 (63 percent) from the line.

Despite only a one-rebound advantage (27-26) in overall rebounds, UTPB led 15-3 on the offensive glass and led 15-6 in second chance points and 15-7 in fastbreak points.

UTPB also had 14 steals on 25 NMHU turnovers, leading to a 20-point advantage (27-7) on points off turnovers. Holt and Ja'Nya Thomas led the Falcons with four steals apiece.

UTPB's only lead in the first half was 3-2 after a steal by Holt and an early fastbreak layup and-one by Thomas. In all, there would be seven ties and 12 lead changes in the second half, including six lead changes in the fourth quarter.

Down by one at halftime (27-26), the Falcons took their first lead (31-30) since the opening two minutes with a pair of free throws by Jonesha Neal exactly two and a half minutes into the third quarter. A layup by Neal with 30 seconds left in the period gave UTPB a 41-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The final lead change of the game came in the final four minutes when back-to-back layups by Holt, the second coming on a fastbreak after a steal by Juliet Esomchukwu, brought the Falcons from down by two to up by two (51-49) with 3:21 left to play.

A jumper by Kenadi Rising with two minutes left made it a four-point lead (53-49), and two free throws by Neal made it a five-point game (55-50) with a minute and a half to go.

A 3-pointer by the Cowgirls' Kapiolani Anitielu came after the free throws by Neal and cut it to a one-score game (55-53) entering the final minute. NMHU proceeded to turn it over twice without a shot attempt, Neal went 1-for-2 at the free throw line with 20 seconds left, and then Anitielu missed trying to tie it from three. Walters cleared the defensive rebound and went 1-for-2 from the line to make it a two-score game in the final eight seconds, effectively closing it out.

UTPB (3-2 overall) has shot under 35 percent from the field in each of its last four games, but has managed to win the last two thanks to double-digit offensive rebounds in all five games this year and double-digit steals in the last two wins. NMHU (3-1) suffers its first loss of the season after starting the year 3-0 against Lone Star Conference opponents, including scoring 106 and 92 points in back-to-back wins over Western New Mexico University in its last two games.

UTPB Head Women's Basketball Coach Rae Boothe spoke after the win and said, "I'm so proud of our team. Going into today's game, NMHU was averaging 32 points per game off of forcing 29 turnovers. That was a huge focus for us. They scored seven points off of our turnovers and we scored 27 off of theirs. So, we did a great job in that area. We struggled again to shoot well, but did a great job getting more shots as we crashed well. We won the o-board battle 15-3. It was a hard-fought game for sure. Now on to the next as we face a very good Adams State team."

In their second game of the WT Thanksgiving Classic, the Falcons will battle Adams State University again starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 29. Adams State has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons and defeated UTPB 96-83 in the opening round of the NCAA South Central Regional to end the Falcons' 2023-24 season.