ODESSA, Texas (February 1, 2025) – Taysha Rushton connected on six 3-pointers and Morgan Helgesen added a double-double as The University of Texas Permian Basin women's basketball team defeated Sul Ross State University 83-74 on Saturday inside the Falcon Dome.

UTPB improves to 12-9 overall, 10-5 in the Lone Star Conference (5th place) and 6-3 in the West Division (third place).

UTPB outscored SRSU (2-16 overall, 1-14 LSC) 21-16 in the second quarter, 19-11 in the third quarter and hung on in a high-scoring fourth quarter.

The Falcons shot 50 percent (8-16) in the second quarter to go along with a 5-for-11 mark from three, and then shot 53.33 percent (8-15) overall in the third quarter.

The Falcons finished 12-for-30 (40.0 percent) from three and continued their improved free throw shooting with a 15-for-20 (75 percent) effort from the line.

The defense, meanwhile, held the Lobos to 27.27 percent shooting (3-11) in the third quarter and a 7-for-25 (28 percent) mark from three for the game.

Rushton shot 50 percent from three (6-12) and scored 22 points while also dishing out five assists. It was her fourth game this season scoring at least 20 points, and was her third game hitting at least six 3-pointers with at least 50 percent shooting from three.

Helgesen finished with 11 points and a career-best 14 rebounds. In addition to notching her first double-double since the 2022-23 season, Helgesen also added three assists and four steals, including what was essentially a game-saving steal in the final minute.

Diavian Spencer contributed in a big way and provided a spark when the Falcons needed it the most, scoring a season-best 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field and 2-for-4 shooting from three.

Khiara Flugence finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. She has recorded at least seven rebounds in each of the last seven games for UTPB.

Makala Bingley provided eight points to go along with six rebounds and four assists; Mikalah Buckley added eight points as well; and Avalon Munoz recorded five points, four rebounds and six assists.

UTPB grabbed five offensive rebounds in the first five minutes of the game, but started just 3-for-9 from the field and 1-for-6 from three.

Both teams would shoot 43.75 percent (7-16) from the field in a first quarter that featured five ties and three lead changes and ended with a 19-19 tie after both teams scored in the final 30 seconds.

Trailing by five points (31-26) with four minutes remaining in the second quarter, UTPB went on an 11-0 run beginning with three straight 3-pointers by Spencer, Rushton and Helgesen and ending with a jumper in the paint by Munoz to make it 37-31 Falcons with 1:30 left before halftime.

UTPB started the second quarter just 2-for-8 (25 percent) from the field before making six of its final eight shots and finishing at 50 percent (8-16).

In the first half, the Falcons were 8-for-19 (42.1 percent) from three after Spencer continued her solid play with another 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds.

In all, UTPB closed the first half on a 14-4 run.

UTPB then started the second half with back-to-back layups by Flugence, both assisted on by Munoz, to make it a nine-point Falcons' lead (44-35).

It was then a 50-37 lead after a three by Rushton under three minutes into the third quarter, and then a layup by Helgesen made it a 15-point game (54-39) with under four minutes left in the period.

After UTPB led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, SRSU got to within seven (59-52) with a banked in 3-pointer just one minute into the fourth quarter, but Rushton answered with a three on the next Falcons' possession after another assist by Munoz.

UTPB led by at least seven points for the first 17 minutes after halftime, but after the Lobos got it down to seven points again (70-63) with under five minutes remaining, a 10-2 run made it only a three-point game (76-73) in the final two minutes.

A layup by Bingley on a nice pass from Rushton with only one minute left in the game gave the Falcons some breathing room up two possessions (78-73), and then after getting a big steal to end the next Lobos' possession, Helgesen would seal the game with two free throws with 22 seconds left.

Next up, UTPB will head to West Texas A&M University to start a four-game road swing on Thursday, February 6. The Falcons fell 77-72 at home against the Lady Buffs earlier this season (Jan. 11).