GOODWELL, Okla. – Having delivered a game-winning basket the night before, it looked like the Western New Mexico University women's basketball team would be in position to have the same result. Instead Texas-Permian Basin was able to come back and hold off the Lady Mustangs for the 66-62 win Saturday.

"Tough one to lose," Head Coach Rusty Kennedy said. "We played very well for most of the game, just didn't finish or defend the last five minutes. We have to become better at finishing games down the stretch!"

WNMU (1-1) began to open up a lead midway through the first quarter when Myla Woods-Brown (Roswell, NM/Roswell ) drilled a jumper and Jada Grady (Louisville, KY/Seneca ) connected on a three-pointer for the 9-5 lead with 4:47 to go in the opening quarter.

After a run by UTPB (1-1), the Lady Mustangs closed the quarter strong with Cristiana Yepa (Dulce, NM/Dulce ) hitting a three for the 13-11 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Falcons would fight back to tie a couple of times before WNMU began to pull away. Tied at 18, Jade Botelho (Honolulu, HI/Iolani ) got loose for a layup to help ignite an 8-0 run. Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley ) added a basket before Botelho finished what she started with back-to-back layups to move the Lady Mustangs ahead at 26-18.

WNMU continued to apply the pressure with Grady hitting a three and another layup by Botelho at the end of the half had the Lady Mustangs holding a 36-25 lead at halftime. WNMU dominated the quarter outscoring UTPB 23-14, making 58.82 (10-17) from the field.

The lead would stretch to 12 a pair of times in the third quarter, with the last coming at 42-30 on a layup by Yepa at the 6:46 mark. UTPB would work their way back to within seven when Botelho again closed the quarter with a layup at the buzzer for the 53-44 lead.

Desiree Smith (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union ) had WNMU back into a double-digit lead with a layup 16 seconds into the final frame. Then the Falcons came charging back going on a 12-1 run over the next four minutes to come all the way back and tie the game at 56. The Lady Mustangs would retake the lead a couple of times with the last coming at the 2:24 mark on a layup by Grady for the 62-61 lead. UTPB would answer with a layup on the ensuing possession and never look back. WNMU had a couple of chances on their next trip down the floor, but couldn't connect. The Falcons would hit a pair at the foul line to move in front 65-62 with 1:24 to play.

The teams would trade off missed shots and turnovers when WNMU tried for the tie with just seconds remaining, but the shot missed and the Falcons secured the rebound and the victory.

WNMU made 25-61 (41) from the field, including a 6-18 (33.3) effort from three-point range. UTPB was right behind the Lady Mustangs making 21-54 (38.9) and went 8-21 (38.1) from three-point range. The Falcons held a solid 16-6 edge on free throws made.

Grady paced the Lady Mustangs with a game-high 21 points, making 7-13 from the field that included a strong 5-10 effort from three. She also grabbed three rebounds, dished out two assists and had a steal. Botelho reached double-digits with 12 points and also had three rebounds and two blocks.

Shanna Taylor led the Falcons with 15 points.

WNMU will return home this coming Wednesday when they will host the University of the Southwest beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside Drag's Court.