CANYON, Texas - The No. 2/6 Angelo State women's basketball team dropped its first game of the season losing 68-61 to West Texas A&M on Thursday night in Canyon. 

The Belles (12-1, 6-1 LSC) struggled, shooting 39 percent from the field and were outrebounded 40-32 by the Lady Buffs (12-4, 5-2 LSC). ASU was able to score 24 points in the paint but WT scored 14 points off second chance points. West Texas A&M was also able to get to the free throw line 23 times making 18 while ASU was 7-for-13 from the charity stripe. 

"For some strange reason we could not get into a rhythm tonight," Angelo State head women's basketball coach Kevin Baker said. "I didn't feel like we showed up tonight and I feel bad for our kids because we are a better team than we played tonight. I give credit to WT for the way they played tonight." 

Taylor Dorsey led the Belles with 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Jasmine Dorsey scored 14 points and recorded seven rebounds and Lexi Murphy sank four 3-pointers for 12 points. 

The Belles were down 30-23 at the break and WT opened the third quarter with four straight points to build its advantage to 34-23. A free throw from Dorsey followed by a steal and a layup sparked an 11-1 that tied the game at 35 at the 5:53 mark of the third quarter. Dorsey scored five of the 11 points while Prophet hit two layups inside. West Texas A&M answered with a 11-4 run to take a 46-39 lead into the fourth quarter. 

West Texas A&M continued to lead in the fourth quarter through the first four minutes until Murphy hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 56-55 at the 3:54 mark. It would be the closet the Belles would get unable to take a lead. Down only 61-59 with 2:20 to go in the game WT would outscore ASU 7-2 to beat the Belles. 

Dorsey scored the first bucket of the second quarter to put ASU up 10-9. The Lady Buffs responded with a 9-0 run to take an 18-10 advantage. Keanna Kelly drained one of her two 3-pointers in the game to cut the deficit to five. WT pushed their lead to 14 with 2:35 to go in the first half but ASU finished the quarter on a 7-0 run highlighted by one of Murphy's four 3-pointers to make it 30-23 WT at the break. 

The game got off to a slow start with West Texas A&M leading the Belles 9-8 after the first quarter. Neither team shot over 30 percent in the first quarter. 

Lexi Hightower of WT led all scorers with 16 points and Alie Decker added 13 points. 

The Belles return to the court on Saturday, Jan. 14 in Odessa against Texas Permian Basin at 2 p.m.