SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team dropped its home opener 64-56 to UTPB on Tuesday at the Junell Center.
The Belles (0-3) were able to shoot 40-percent (18-of-45) from the field and 50-percent (7-of-14) from the 3-point line but were plagued by 26 turnovers. The Falcons (2-0) outrebounded ASU 46-34 including 26 offensive rebounds and were able to score 21 points off turnovers.
Freshman Shauna Coleman led the team with 13 points and Amanda Weaver added 12 by going 4-of-6 from behind the arc. Kietta Saunders was the top rebounder with six including four on the offensive end.
ASU started the game with a 3-pointer by Weaver. It was tied just second later with a three by UTPB's Valerie Barriga. Moments later, a jumper by Jasmine Caston would give the Belles a five-poitn advantage at 11-6 at the 14:45 mark of the first half. UTPB would respond with a 7-1 run to take a 13-12 advantage. Dimlaises Rivera was stopped the run after she was fouled on a shot on the block that went in. The free throw was good to put ASU on top 15-13.
The Falcons built a five-point lead and extended it to eight points at 27-19 at the 4:19 mark. Weaver's fourth three of the night cut the deficit to 27-22. UTPB went up eight before the half with a free throw from Danielle Wilson until Caston went coast-to-coast to hit a jumper at the buzzer to be only down 30-24.
Coleman scored three of her 13 points after scoring and getting fouled early in the second half. . She made the free throw to cut into UTPB's 34-30 lead at the 17:32 mark of the second half. UTPB responded with a 9-2 run and take the lead 43-32. Elaine Herrera found her shooting stroke and hit two three's while Jasmine Patterson scored inside to whittle the Falcon lead down to 45-40 with 10:59 left in the game.
Four Belle turnovers turned into a 9-2 Falcon run to push the lead back to 12 with 7:09 to go in the second half. ASU would bring to within nine points twice at 54-45 after Herrera's third 3-pointer of the night and 56-47 after two free throws from Coleman. The Falcons pushed their lead to 13 before ASU finished the game on a 7-2 run to make the final 64-56.
Valeria Barriga led UTPB with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Brianna Dominguez scored nine and Keyondra White added eight points.
The Belles will return to action on Monday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. against Lubbock Christian at the Junell Center.
