ODESSA, Texas (February 9, 2026) – Thanks to the generosity and support of Edgardo Madrid & Associates, The University of Texas Permian Basin Athletics Department has announced Madison Walters (Women's Basketball), Sharrod Taylor (Men's Basketball) and Owen Putnam (Men's Swimming) as the January Student-Athletes of the Month.

Walters, a junior guard from Paris, Texas, averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game in the month of January. She shot 48.5 percent (32-66) from the field and 32.4 percent (12-37) from three, and led the Falcons in made field goals (32), total rebounds (44), defensive rebounds (38), steals (17) and points (94) while also tying for the team lead in made threes (12) and made free throws (18). Walters scored in double digits while also leading the team in scoring in four of the final five games of January. She set career-highs in points (25), rebounds (8; twice) and assists (5) during the month. On January 13, Walters led all players in points (25) and rebounds (8) and shot 9-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from three to help the Falcons pull away and earn a big 76-67 victory on the road at rival Angelo State University.

UTPB Head Women's Basketball Coach Rae Boothe said, "We are so proud of Madison! She has emerged as a leader this season and has turned it on at the time her team needs her the most. She has had some special performances in games. She had two games during January where she shot 80 percent from the field. One of those games she had a career high 25 points. She also had, what was, a career-high in rebounds of eight. She recently beat that by pulling down 12 this past Saturday. During the games is when it is really noticed and recognized, but this is Mae every day to us. She works incredibly hard, has a winning mindset and is a phenomenal teammate and person.  Walters is extremely deserving of this honor."

Taylor, a senior guard from Youngstown, Ohio, averaged 17.5 points, 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game in the month of January. He shot 39.8 percent (39-98) from the field, 43.3 percent (26-60) from three and 75.0 percent (36-48) from the free throw line, and led the Falcons in made 3-pointers, 3-point field goal percentage, assists and scoring. Taylor scored in double digits in each of the final seven games of the month, reached the 15-point mark four times, and had a career-high 35-point outing and a 22-point outing, both in wins. He had a career-high 12 assists in one game and totaled eight or more assists three times in the final five games of the month. He also amassed nine rebounds in two games, had at least five assists in each of the final five games of the month, and had a season-high four steals in one game as well. Taylor helped push UTPB past the finish line to earn its first conference win of the season, draining a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute and finishing with 22 points on 6-for-13 shooting from three in an 82-80 win at Oklahoma Christian University on January 8. Taylor then approached triple-double territory with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a 115-108 double overtime victory at Cameron University on January 10 and reached a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists, the most assists in a single game in the Lone Star Conference so far this season, in a 78-70 home win over The University of Texas at Dallas on January 17. His best performance of the month came in a 100-95 overtime win at home over Texas A&M International University on January 22, an effort that earned Taylor the LSC's Offensive Player of the Week award after finishing with 35 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals – all team highs. He hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in regulation to force overtime – capping off a stretch of 18 points in just over six and a half minutes. Taylor was 9-for-16 from the field, hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range and made 12 of 14 free throws. His 35 points is the second-highest single game total in the league this season. At the end of January, Taylor ranked second in 3-point field goal percentage (.410), third in both made threes per game (2.6) and assists per game (4.3), ninth in made 3-pointers (41), and 15th in scoring (14.4 ppg) in the LSC.

UTPB Head Men's Basketball Coach Kyle Tolin said, "Congrats to Sharrod on this great honor. He has been playing well and deserves this."

Putnam, a senior captain from Houston, Texas, won the 200 butterfly (1:51.07) and almost came from behind to win the 400 IM (second place; 4:07.72) in a dual meet at NCAA Division I TCU on January 10. In a dual-meet victory at McMurry University the following weekend (Jan. 17), Putnam finished first in the 200 freestyle (1:46.09) and was second in the 100 butterfly (53.36). He is the first member of the UTPB men's swimming & diving team to be named an athlete of the month.

UTPB Head Swimming Coach Brian Schroeder said, "For a senior athlete and captain, Owen has stayed motivated this season to be at his best. He had a great January, and I'm excited to see what he will do at the conference championships this week."