It wasn’t the most auspicious of starts for the UTPB women’s basketball team, which turned the ball over on each of its first three trips down the court against the University of the Southwest.
The visitors from Hobbs (N.M.) actually held the lead, albeit briefly, on two occasions in the early going thanks to baskets by Beverly Bradley and Shanyce Cabrales.
That got the Falcons attention and they quickly flipped the scoreboard and then ran away to a very comfortable 83-41 victory against the Mustangs in nonconference play Wednesday at the Falcon Dome.
UTPB improved to 3-8 and now has two weeks off before returning to face Sul Ross State on Dec. 29.
Alexus Wykoff led the Falcons with a game-high 19 points, with Ally Haman adding 16 points to the victory. Morgan Helgesen finished with seven rebounds.
All of Wykoff’s field goals came inside the paint as her teammates found her time and again, no matter how many Mustangs were guarding here.
“It’s buckets when she get the ball,” UTPB women’s coach Rae Boothe said. “And she makes the smart play, too, to kick it out if she doesn’t have anything.
“It was good to win going into the break and when we come back, we should have some players back that are out with injuries right now and that will give us some more depth.”
Martinique Larvingo led the Mustangs with nine points, with Harlie Haceesa pulling down a game-high eight rebounds.
University of the Southwest suited just nine players and when the Falcons got going, the visitors couldn’t find any answers.
The Falcons didn’t give up any free throws to the Mustangs and have allowed just two in their past two games.
UTPB only shot six free throws, but didn’t need the charity shots in this matinee effort, hitting nearly 50 percent (31 of 63) of their field goals, including nine 3-pointers (four by Haman).
After Bradley’s layup gave the visitors a 2-0 lead, Haman connect on her first long-distance effort, from the right wing, to put UTPB in the lead.
Another turnover by the Falcons prompted Boothe to make a complete lineup change and Wykoff scored her first point of the game from the free throw line for a two-point margin.
Southwest’s Isabel Rodriguez tied the game with another layup and then UTPB’s Lauren Stallworth drove the left baseline for a field goal to put the Falcons back in front.
Cabrales then connected from the right wing for a Mustangs’ lead (7-6).
Wykoff quickly erased the deficit with rebound and putback for an 8-7 lead.
That sparked the Falcons on a 13-3 run that included a 3-pointer from Holly Hemmeline, a drive to the basket by Haman, a spin move in the paint for a layup by Alexus Quaadman, a steal and finish by Haman and then a short bank shot by Wykoff.
UTPB led 19-10 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
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UTPB 83, Univ. of the Southwest 41
SOUTHWEST
Martinique Larvingo 4-9 0-0 9, Shanyce Cabrales 2-7 0-0 6, Isabel Rodriguez 3-7 0-0 7, Harlei Haceesa 3-12 0-0 6, Beverly Bradley 1-3 0-0 2, Abigail Olivas 3-7 0-0 9, Tiayana Williams 0-3 0-0 0, Veronica Barrot 0-2 0-0 0, Morgan Kappenman 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 17-53 0-0 41.
UTPB (3-8)
Morgan Helgesen 4-11 0-0 11, Alexus Quaadman 2-4 0-1 4, Avalon Munoz 2-8 0-0 5, Holly Hemmeline 3-6 0-0 8, Ally Haman 6-10 0-0 16, Diavian Spencer 0-7 0-0 0, Lauren Stallworth 4-5 0-1 8, Aleix Popham 3-5 2-3 9, Alexus Wykoff 9-10 1-2 19, Kine Diop 0-2 1-2 1, Ogechi Nwodo 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 35-70 4-9 83.
Univ. of Southwest.. 10.. 10 12 9 — 41
UTPB………………….. 19.. 24 23 17 — 83
3-Point goals — Southwest 7-27 (Larvingo 1-4, Cabrales 2-7, Rodriguez 1-2, Haceesa 0-3, Bradley 0-1, Olivas 3-5, Williams 0-2, Barrot 0-2, Kappenman 0-1), UTPB 9-24 (Helgesen 1-4, Munoz 1-1, Hemmeline 2-5, Haman 4-8, Spencer 0-4, Popham 1-2). Total fouls — Southwest 15, UTPB 11. Fouled out — Southwest (Bradley). Technical fouls — None. Rebounds — Southwest 36 (Haceesa 8), UTPB 39 (Helgesen 9). Assists — Southwest 10 (Haceesa 4), UTPB 26 (Munoz 7)..
