SILVER CITY, N.M. Despite a fourth quarter scoring boost, the UTPB women’s basketball team couldn’t close the gap in a 69-65 loss to Western New Mexico Saturday.
It was the Falcons’ ninth Lone Star Conference loss, maintaining a losing streak that stretches back to early January.
UTPB trailed by four points at the halftime break and saw the Mustangs increase their lead with a strong showing in the third quarter.
The Falcons outscored Western New Mexico 20-14 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to tie the score up late.
Avalon Munoz led UTPB with 20 points scored, going 7-of-13 from the field.
UTPB (4-17 overall, 0-9 conference) will look to snap its losing streak against Texas A&M International at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the Falcon Dome.
Western New Mexico 69, UTPB 65
UTPB (4-17, 0-9 Lone Star Conference)
Avalon Munoz 7-13 5-10 20, Kamari Portalis 3-7 1-4 8, Morgan Helgesen 2-7 1-4 7, Ogechi Nwodo 2-11 0-2 4, Holly Hemmeline 1-8 0-0 3, Alexis Popham 3-5 0-0 7, Rory Carter 3-7 0-1 7, Alexus Wykoff 2-4 0-0 4, Ally Haman 2-5 0-0 4, Diavian Spencer 0-2 1-2 1, Kim Best 0-2 0-0 0, Kine Diop 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-71 8-23 65.
WESTERN NEW MEXICO (5-11, 1-7)
Kaela Chavez 4-10 2-2 14, Olivia Lee 5-7 0-2 10, Zyan Smith 3-6 0-0 8, Cassandra Vickery 2-10 0-0 4, Alina Simon 1-4 0-0 2, Myla Lee 6-9 0-0 12, Amayay Vasquez 3-4 2-3 8, Cynaye Bobbitt 3-6 0-0 8, Charlize Bustillos 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 28-57 4-7 69.
UTPB………………….. 14.. 17 14 20 — 65
Western N.M………. 15.. 20 20 14 — 69
3-Point goals — UTPB 7-28 (Munoz 1-2, Portalis 1-4, Helgesen 2-5, Nwodo 0-1, Hemmeline 1-7, Popham 1-3, Carter 1-3, Haman 0-1, Spencer 0-2), Western New Mexico 9-21 (Chavez 4-9, Smith 2-3, Vickery 0-2, Simon 0-2, Bobbitt 2-4, Bustillos 1-1). Total fouls — UTPB 16, Western New Mexico 21. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — None. Rebounds — UTPB 28 (Nwodo 8), Western New Mexico 44 (Vickery 11). Assists — UTPB 9 (Munoz, Hemmeline, Carter 2), Western New Mexico 21 (Bustillos 6).
