ODESSA, Texas (Feb. 18, 2023) – On their final two game road trip of the season, the Texas Woman's basketball team dropped their last game of the week against UT Permian Basin, 69-57.
 
TWU (23-3, 18-2) lost their only meeting with UTPB (13-14, 10-11) this season in the Falcon Dome on Saturday afternoon.
 
The win for the Falcons marked their second of the week after beating UT Tyler on Thursday, Feb. 16. For TWU, the loss came on the heels of their first loss in LSC action on Thursday to Angelo State. The Pioneers remain first in the LSC, as the only team with just two losses in conference action.
 
Three Pioneers finished in double digits in the game. Sadie Moyer and Keslyn King topped the leaderboard for TWU on offense with 15 points each. Ngozi Obineke, who got the starting nod in place of injured Ashley Ingram, answered the call this afternoon, scoring 11 points, grabbing a team high eight rebounds and a game-high four steals.
 
A slow start haunted the Pioneers throughout the game, as they scored just eight points in the opening quarter. On the other side, UTPB felt the home crowd energy and went five-of-nine from the three point line to take an earlier 19-8 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Pioneers found their offensive rhythm in the second, as Brielle Woods got the Pioneers' started with a made three in the first 20 seconds of the quarter. Woods' three ignited a 10-1 run for TWU in the first four minutes of the second quarter.
 
With 4:53 on the clock, a pair of made free throws by Jordan Jackson tied the game at 23 points. The Falcons responded with two made free throws of their own, but Obineke quickly tied the game again at 25 on a made layup.
 
TWU fought to maintain pressure on the offensive and defensive end to close the first half Moyer silenced a 7-1 run by UTPB with a made layup to take the Pioneers' back within three, 31-28, with 55 seconds left on the clock.
 
Then, a last second foul sent UTPB to the free throw line, where they hit one out of two to send TWU into halftime trailing by four points.
 
The two ties in the second quarter marked the closest the Pioneers were to taking the lead, as the Falcons continued to have the hot hand and be offensively productive in the second half.
 
After trailing by double digits in the third quarter, TWU fought back and overcame the deficit. The Pioneers worked to drive aggressively to the basket and forced UTPB into foul trouble to set up a comeback fourth quarter.
 
With four minutes remaining in the game, Moyer connected on two free throws to bring the Pioneers' within three points, 55-52.
 
TWU maintained their tenacious defense and held the Falcons scoreless for another two minutes. King hit a free throw to bring the Pioneers within two points at the two-minute mark, 55-53.
 
Nevertheless, following King's free throws, TWU struggled to find a basket on the offensive end and allowed the Falcons to mount a 13-4 run in the final two minutes of action – 11 of which were free throws. The run stinted TWU's comeback, giving the Falcons their 10th win in LSC action this season, 69-57.
 
TWU also struggled on the boards tonight, losing the rebounding battle, 47-37 and giving up 18 offensive rebounds for 13 second-chance points.
 
The Pioneers bench responded well tonight with 24 total points, and TWU won the battle in the paint with 26 points to the Falcons' 20.
 
On the defensive end, TWU played strong, forcing the Falcons into 13 turnovers; however, the Pioneers were unable to take advantage of the turnover category, scoring just 11 points. The Pioneers committed 11 turnovers, which UTPB scored 16 points from.
 
TWU will be back in action for their final home game of the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 23, when they will celebrate senior day in KMA.