The UTPB women’s basketball team needs its outside shots to fall in order to open up the inside game.
It didn’t happen for the Falcons against Angelo State.
Instead, it was the Rambelles getting drawing the Falcons out and then moving the ball into the paint, where Angelo State’s Madeline Stephens and Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant made them pay.
At the same time, teammate Sawyer Lloyd was directing traffic and hitting jump shots.
Lloyd finished with a game-high 23 points, 17 rebounds and five assists to lead the Rambelles to a 68-59 victory against UTPB in Lone Star Conference play Friday at the Falcon Dome.
Stephens finished with 20 points for Angelo State (8-2 overall, 4-1 in conference), while McGhee-Pleasant added 12 points to the victory.
Andreea Mancha scored 18 points to lead UTPB (6-5, 3-2), with Kamari Portalis adding 12 points off the bench.
Alexus Quaadman pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the team, with Morgan Helgesen and Avalon Munoz each finishing with four assists.
The Falcons struggled from the field, hitting just 21 of 75 shots on the night, including a 7-of-35 performance from three-point range.
Mancha connected on two of the 3-pointers in the final minute to make the score respectable.
UTPB had its chance through the first three quarters, leading after eight minutes and trailing by one, 30-29, at halftime.
The Falcons opened the second half on an 8-0 run, but the Rambelles quickly responded to pull within one point (37-36) with less than seven minutes to play in the third quarter.
The teams began trading baskets until Lloyd was fouled by Munoz on a drive to the basket.
Lloyd made the basket and ensuing free throw to put Angelo State ahead, 46-44, with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rambelles never trailed again, holding a 53-48 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
There, after shooting just five free throws through the first 30 minutes, Angelo State forced the Falcons to foul and went to the line 12 times in the final 10 minutes, making eight.
At the same time, UTPB was struggling to find the bottom of the net, hitting just three of its 20 shots in the fourth quarter as the Rambelles raced out to a 64-50 lead.
It was 66-51 when Mancha connected on a 3-pointer from the right wing and then followed that up with another 3-pointer, this from the left wing, to pull UTPB with nine (66-57) with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game.
Helgesen made two free throws to make it a seven-point game, but Lloyd closed the scoring with a pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining.
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for UTPB, which is off for the Christmas break.
The Falcons return to play on Jan. 30 at Eastern New Mexico and then face Western New Mexico on New Year’s Day.
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Angelo State 68, UTPB 59
Friday, Falcon Dome
ANGELO STATE (8-2 overall, 4-1 Lone Star)
Madeline Stephens 8-12 3-4 20, Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant 5-11 1-2 12, Madisen Honea 0-8 0-0 0, Sawyer Lloyd 8-22 3-3 23, Brighton Adams 0-1 0-0 0, Briley Merket 2-6 2-2 7, Landry Morrow 0-2 0-2 0, Keniah Williams 2-3 2-4 6, Kyla Cobb 0-1 0-0 0, Aicha Ndir 0-2 0-0 0, Alexandra Bednarczyk 0-0 0-0 0, Kenslee Konarik 0-0 0-0 0, Olivia Pedio 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-68 11-17 68.
UTPB (6-5, 3-2)
Morgan Helgesen 3-13 2-2 8, Alexus Quaadman 1-4 2-6 4, Andreea Mancha 6-13 2-2 18, Avalon Munoz 1-12, 0-0 3, Holly Hemmeline 1-12 0-0 3, Kamari Portalis 6-10 0-0 12, Diavian Spencer 2-7 1-2 6, Naomi Price 0-2 0-0 0, Khiara Flugence 0-1 0-0 0, Makayla Bingley 0-0 0-0 0, Aly Haman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-75 10-18 59.
Angelo State ………. 20 — 10 — 23 — 15 — 68
UTPB…………………. 21 — 8 — 19 — 11 — 59
3-point goals — Angelo State 7-26 (Stephens 1-1, McGhee-Pleasant 1-2, Honea 0-7, Lloyd 4-10, Adams 0-1, Merket 1-4, Morrow 0-1), UTPB 7-35 (Helgesen 0-6, Mancha 4-8, Munoz 1-6, Hemmeline 1-10, Portalis 0-1, Spencer 1-4). Total fouls — Angelo State 19, UTPB 19. Fouled out — Angelo States (Stephens), UTPB (Munoz). Technical fouls — None. Rebounds — Angelo State 55 (Lloyd 17), UTPB 47 (Quaadman 10). Assists — Angelo State 13 (Lloyd 5), UTPB 11 (Helgesen 4, Munoz 4).
