ODESSA, Texas (May 14, 2025) – Sophomore football player Tristan Exline and fifth-year women's basketball player Taysha Rushton have been named to the 2025 Lone Star Conference Athletic Performance All-Conference Team on Wednesday. The team recognizes student-athletes who excel in work ethic, dedication to process, attendance, communication, leadership and growth.

Exline, a native of China Spring, Texas, was named the LSC Co-Linebacker of the Year and First-Team All-Conference. He also earned a spot on the D2Football.com Elite 100 Squad Team, the 2024 Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas Non-FBS team, and the 2024 Don Hansen NCAA Division II Honorable Mention All-America team. Exline led the Falcons with 104 total tackles, including 60 solo tackles, and was second with 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Exline ranked second in the LSC in tackles for loss, was third in sacks, and ranked fifth in total tackles and sixth in tackles per game (8.7). In NCAA Division II, Exline was tied for 22nd in solo tackles per game (5.0) and ranked 32nd in total tackles per game (8.7).

Director of Strength and Conditioning Jared Heumann said, "Leading the team as a true sophomore is truly a sight to watch. Over the past year, Tristan completely transformed his body with nutrition and work ethic from his freshman year to sophomore year. Tristan always comes in willing to put the work in day in and day out. He gained 11 pounds this past offseason while still able to run a high of 21 miles per hour and hitting personal records on all of his jump tests."

Rushton, a native of Midland, Texas, Rushton was named the Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All-LSC, and was named Second-Team D2CCA All-South Central Region. Rushton led the Falcons with 16.8 points per game, 50 steals, 158 made field goals, 75 made 3-pointers and 95 free throws made during her lone season at UTPB. Rushton was 20th in all of NCAA Division II in made 3-pointers, 24th in 3-pointers per game (2.59), 64th in points (486), and 65th in points per game. Rushton also led the LSC in 3-pointers made per game and was second in made threes, third in points per game, fourth in 3-point field goal percentage, sixth in assists per game, seventh in total steals and free throw percentage, and eighth in made free throws. In her lone season with the Falcons, she moved herself into the UTPB record books with single-season rankings of third in points (486), fourth in field goals made (158) and sixth in made 3-pointers (75).

Heumann added, "Taysha brought leadership and an excellent work ethic during each session. I only spent eight months coaching Taysha, but with her willingness to continue to get better and be coachable made it easy to coach her day in and day out."