ODESSA, Texas – The Angelo State women's basketball team's fourth quarter comeback fell short in an 80-74 loss to UTPB in Odessa on Thursday evening.
The Belles (6-2) struggled shooting only 36.4-percent from the field and 27.3-percent from behind the arc. UTPB (4-6) hit 45.1-percent from the field including 52.9-percent in the second half. The Falcons outscored ASU 44-38 in the paint and 10-4 in fast break points. The 74 points and four steals are a season low for the Belles. ASU is now 1-1 on the road this season.
"We simply didn't play well tonight," ASU head women's basketball coach Kevin Baker said. "We weren't ready for a tough game on the road. They hit some big shots down the stretch that ended a very courageous comeback. I am very proud of our team for their efforts in the fourth quarter. We almost pulled off an amazing comeback victory."
Four Belles were in double figures scoring led by a season high 21 points and eight rebounds. Taylor Dorsey added 17 points and a team high four assists while Brea Mitchell chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds. KeAnna Kelly contributed 12 points and three assists.
The Belles were down 64-46 to open the fourth quarter but started a comeback with a Kelly layup. The layup sparked a 7-0 run capped off with a 3 - pointer by Kelly to make it 64-55 just two minutes into the fourth quarter. UTPB extended its advantage to 13 with a 3 - pointer but a layup by Prophet followed by a Mitchell three cut the deficit to single digits at 70-62. A 12-4 run started with a Dorsey three pointer made it a one possession game after a Mitchell jumper to bring the score to 76-74 with 53 second left. UTPB hit a jumper and the Belles missed a follow up three to stop the comeback and end the game at 78-74.
ASU held a 35-32 coming out of the break but UTPB drained a three to open the third quarter. A layup and free throw by Prophet regained the lead at 38-35. After a Christina Robinson layup, UTPB would go on a 15-0 run to open up a 52-40 lead halfway through the third quarter. Prophet would score four straight points to cut the deficit to 54-44 but the Falcons went up 64-46 at the end of the third with a 10-4 run.
The Belles opened the game with a 10-4 advantage and a jumper by Prophet. A 3 - pointer by Kelly moments later gave ASU its biggest lead in the first quarter at 13-6. A 9-3 run by UTPB to end the first quarter tied the game at 16.
ASU once again jumped out to a 23-18 lead in the second quarter after a jumper from Diamalises Rivera and a pair of Dorsey free throws. UTPB continued to trim the lead a six point ASU advantage. The Falcons scored six straight points to tie the game at 28 with 3:24 to go in the first half. The game would be tied twice down the final 3:24 until a jumper from Robinson and free throw by Kiahna Thompson made it 35-32 at half.
UTPB was led by Shanna Taylor and Vigil Khadijah who each scored 17. Peevy Jau'na added 11 and Elisa Gonzales scored 10.
