Box Score
ODESSA – The Tarleton TexAnns defeated Texas-Permian Basin 64-38 in the season-opener, but Monday's game would prove to be a much different story as UTPB came away with an 86-83 win over the TexAnns at the Falcon Dome in Odessa.
A controversial ending to the game gave the Falcons their first win over the TexAnns in the history of the program as Tarleton fell to 12-2 on the season. UTPB meanwhile improved to 7-8 on the year and won its first game over the TexAnns in eight tries.
Tarleton snapped a current four-game winning streak as well, while the Falcons won back-to-back games for the first time all season.
The TexAnns and Falcons opened the first-half trading baskets until Tarleton reeled off a 7-0 run that began with a three-pointer from Sonya Sunberg at the 17:23 mark. A lay-up from Sundberg with 16:06 left to play made it a 13-7 game before UTPB's Tammy Acosta's jumper ended the TexAnn run and pulled the Falcons to within four points, down 13-9.
Tarleton seemed as if they would cruise throughout the remainder of the half as they took a 22-14 lead on Tara Towns' three-pointer with less than 15 minutes left to play in the period. UTPB had different thoughts in mind though, and found themselves down by just three points, 25-22 with 11:59 left to play.
Sundberg made a jumper with 9:59 to put the TexAnns on top 29-26, but that would prove to be the last field goal Tarleton would make over the next five minutes. During that time, UTPB went on a 15-4 run with Tarleton's four points coming just from the free throw line, and the Falcons lead 41-33 with less than four minutes to play. UTPB did have a nine-point lead at one point during the run – the largest deficit the TexAnns had seen all year.
Shedera Bowman provided a quick spark for the TexAnns off the bench in the final moments of the second-half. Her basket with 3:26 left in the period was the first basket for the TexAnns since Sundberg's jumper and she followed it up with another lay-up at 2:59 to pull the TexAnns back to within four points, down 41-37.
Both teams tacked on a pair of baskets in the final 2:30 and the Falcons took a 45-41 lead into the locker room. The 45 points were the most the TexAnns had given up at the half all season.
The Falcons came out of the break, scoring the first five points of the second-half to retake a nine-point lead and go up 50-41. A pair of free throws from Shelby Adamson and a jumper from Stehling pulled Tarleton back to within five points, down 50-45.
Each teams traded baskets over the course of the next five minutes and UTPB was forced to take a timeout with 13:45 left to play, leading 58-53. The Falcons came out of the time out and pressed the TexAnns forcing a turnover, which Acosta turned into a three-point play with a lay-up and a free throw following a foul. Miesha Blackshear was fouled on the ensuing possession and she converted both of her free throws to put the Falcons on top 63-53.
With 11:25 left to play, JoAnne Jones scored on a lay-up to pull the TexAnns back to within four points after an 8-2 run made it a 65-61 game still in favor of the Falcons. UTPB countered as Blackshear made a lay-up with 11 minutes left to play. She was fouled on the play and converted her free throw to increase the UTPB lead to seven points.
Adamson converted her own three-point play on the other end and then with 9:30 remaining on the clock Haley laid in a bucket to pull the TexAnns to within two points, down 68-66. Both teams traded free throws over the next few possessions that made it a 71-69 game and then with 6:33 left on the clock, Haley's lay-up tied the game 71-71.
UTPB then went on a 5-0 run to take a 76-71 lead, but Tarleton countered; scoring the next three points to pull the TexAnns back to within two points, down 76-74. A lay-up from Jackson and free throw from Blackshear gave UTPB back a five point lead, but Sundberg hit a three-pointer with 2:59 left to play and Jones followed with a lay-up at the 2:35 mark to tie the game back at 79-79.
Down 81-79 with 2:12 left to play, Adamson connected on both of her free throws to tie it 81-81, but the Falcon's Acosta nailed a three-pointer from the right wing to put UTPB back on top 84-81. Following a shot clock violation by the Falcons, Tarleton finally got a basket on the other end. Stehling hit a jumper from just beyond the free throw line to make it a 84-83 game with 39 seconds remaining in the game.
UTPB called a timeout, allowing Talrleton to talk it over on the bench. Out of the time out, Blackshear missed the jumper on the other end for the Falcons, but Adamson's pass to Stehling was too strong and the TexAnns turned it over with 12.1 left on the clock.
Tarleton was forced to foul on the inbounds pass and Jackson went to the line for the Falcons. She made both attempts to increase the Falcons lead to 86-83 and UTPB quickly took its final timeout.
Tarleton inbounded the pass to Stehling who quickly got the ball over to Adamson and her three-pointer hit nothing but the bottom of the net, but the game clock was never set to run and the shot was called off. So the TexAnns were forced to re-do the play and came away with nothing after Tori Skarke and Adamson's final attempts failed to go in.
Haley scored a season-high 25 points on the night, but it wasn't enough as Blackshear (20) and Acosta (22) each went over the 20-point barrier. Along with their 20-point efforts, the Falcons shot an impressive 51 percent from the field and held the TexAnns to 41 percent shooting.
Tarleton outscored the home team 14-5 in second-chance points, but UTPB managed to score more points off turnovers (21-20).
Tarleton will return to action this Saturday, Jan. 16 at home against Angelo State to open Lone Star Conference South Division play. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Wisdom Gym.
