Odessa - Despite four quarters of fight, the Kingsville women's basketball team fell in a high-scoring battle on the road against UT - Permian Basin, 87-79.

The loss is the Javelinas' second in a row, leaving the team 5-4 overall and 1-2 in Lone Star Conference play. 

Both teams were red hot from outside, each making 14 threes in the game. The Falcons shot 48.3% from downtown, and scored 18 fastbreak points. Though UTPB's efficient shooting ultimately secured the win, both team's offenses were humming, as they combined for just 19 turnovers, and each shot above 48% from the field.

"They shot the ball extremely well, but so did we," Head Coach Michael Madrid said. "Big difference was 23 fouls called on us and 11 on them leading to 13 more free throw attempts."

The Javelinas were led by senior forward Janessa Payne, who rained in triples throughout the game, hitting multiple big shots. She shot an incredible 8-of-10 from the field and 7-of-8 from three. She also had three assists, and was one of four different Javelinas with at least three dimes.

Two more forwards, junior Shelby Ray and sophomore Kaycee Groves joined Payne with double figures in the scoring department. Ray hit six of her nine shots and had 14 points along with six rebounds. Groves had 11 points on three made triples, and added six rebounds, two assists, and three steals. 

"We have talented players that can score in a variety of ways," Madrid said. "Night in and night out we just have to find the hot hand. Proud of our effort, disappointed in our emotional reaction to things at times."

Offense defined the game early, as both teams combined for 26 points in just the first five minutes of the game. UTPB poured in triples, led by Taysha Rushton, who scored 17 first-half points to lead all scorers at the midway point. 

While the Falcons were on a blazing pace outside the arc, shooting 9-of-18 in the first half, the Javelinas did their work inside. While Kingsville shot 4-of-11 from three in the first 20 minutes, the team's 11-of-16 shooting inside the arc helped it keep pace. Time after time, as UTPB knocked in big triples, TAMUK continued to answer with counter-punches of its own.

Finally, midway through the third quarter, Kingsville grabbed its first lead of the second half - courtesy of a three from sophomore forward Kaycee Groves. A few minutes later, after a run from the Falcons, another Groves three gave the Javelinas the lead once again.

As the teams continued to battle back and forth, Kingsville was dealt a big blow to start the fourth quarter. Just a minute into the final frame, senior guard Abby Bala fouled out with five points, four assists, two rebounds, a steal, and just one turnover. 

While TAMUK fought until the final moments, scoring 20 fourth-quarter points, the Falcons' shot making proved too much down the stretch, securing UTPB its third win in conference play. 

"We will learn from it and prep for the next game," Madrid said.

Kingsville will be back on the hardwood on Sunday when it plays at home for the first time this regular season in a 1 p.m. matchup with West Texas A&M. 
  Read Full Article