ODESSA, Texas – Texas A&M International women's basketball opened Lone Star Conference play on Thursday in a hard-fought 74-68 loss to UT Permian Basin.
 
TAMIU (4-2, 0-1 LSC) was the early aggressor leading 6-2, but the Falcons (4-3, 1-0 LSC) regained the lead 7-6. The Dustdevils then used a 12-4 run the remainder of the first quarter to lead 18-11.
 
UT Permian Basin would limit TAMIU offensively in the second quarter, utilizing an 18-9 edge to take a 29-27 lead into the locker room.
 
In the third, the Falcons grew the lead to 54-44 shooting 57% from the field and from three in the period.
 
The Dustdevils would put 24 points up in the fourth quarter and after trailing by as many as 12 in the early stages cut it to as close as five, while limiting UTPB to 2-for-9 shooting in the quarter. However, the Falcons benefitted from the free throw line, making 14 of 16 attempts in their 20 point fourth quarter, allowing them to seal the victory.
 
For the game, TAMIU shot 46.3% (25-for-54) from the floor and were 8-for-25 (32%) from deep. At the free throw line, the Dustdevils would make 10 of 12 an 83.3% clip.
 
On the other side, TAMIU played solid defense, limiting UTPB to 37% (20-for-54) shooting from the field and 9-for-27 (33.3%) from behind the arc. Again, it was the free throw line that won it for the Falcons, who made 25 of 29 attempts.
 
Junior Marija Bakic was the leading scorer for the Dustdevils, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds, while going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.
 
Junior Emily Swiercz ended the night with 12 points and five rebounds before fouling out, while fellow junior Rai Brown scored 10 points with four rebounds.
 
Junior Clara Fernandez was just shy of consecutive double-doubles, ending with eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Dustdevils return to action on Saturday, Dec. 3 when they conclude the road trip in San Angelo, Texas against Angelo State at 1 p.m.