UTPB’s women’s basketball team opened the new year facing Western New Mexico in the second game of a Lone Star Conference weekend on the road.
That Silver City, N.M., matchup went the way of the hosts.
The Falcons made sure the rematch did as well.
Avalon Munoz scored a game-high 17 points as UTPB avenged the earlier defeat with a 74-52 victory on Thursday at the Falcon Dome.
Morgan Helgesen added 13 points, Makayla Bingley finished with 12 and Alexus Quaadman had 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double in the victory.
UTPB improved to 10-10 overall, 7-7 in conference and remained in the race for one of the eight postseason tournament spots.
“These are must win games for us if we want to make the tournament,” UTPB head coach said. “They are only taking eight teams so it’s going to be tough.
“Avalon played well; she wants to win. It was a good team win.”
Susi Namao scored nine points to lead the Mustangs (5-13, 3-10).
The Falcons were in control from the outset, leading 19-7 after one quarter and 42-20 at halftime.
They matched Western New Mexico’s effort after the break, with each team scoring 32 points in the second half, for the easy victory.
Next up for UTPB is a rematch against Eastern New Mexico, which defeated the Falcons on Dec. 30, 2022.
UTPB was in that game late and lost by a handful of points.
Given the play of Munoz in recent games, along with the inside presence of Quaadman, Boothe feels confident heading into the matchup.
Add in that the Greyhounds are the team nipping at the Falcons’ heels in the playoff hunt and the game takes on added importance.
“Eastern is tough, physical and we are going to have to play another good game,” Boothe said. “We had a chance against them in the first game; we just need to play our game.”
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UTPB 74, Western New Mexico 42
Thursday, Falcon Dome
WESTERN NEW MEXICO
Susi Namao 3-8 1-2 9, Diamond Moore 3-6 2-2 8, Brooke Rodgers 2-6 2-4 7, Delaney Cook 3-5 0-0 7, Sydney Wright 3-12 0-0 8, Milan Tuttle 0-3 3-4 3, Kyra Paniora 1-2 0-0 2, Eliza Joynes 4-6 0-0 8, Cassandre Vickery 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 19-51 8-12 52.
UTPB
Morgan Helgesen 4-6 3-5 13, Makayla Bingley 2-4 6-6 12, Alexus Quaadman 4-9 1-3 11, Kamari Portalis 2-6 2-2 7, Avalon Munoz 4-12 8-9 17, Holly Hemmeline 2-7 2-3 7, Khiara FLugence 1-4 2-4 4, Diavian Spencer 1-2 0-0 3, Ally Haman 0-0 0-0 0, Marisa Seaton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-50 24-32 74.
Western New Mexico… 7 — 13 — 20 — 12 — 52
UTPB ………….………….. 19 — 23 — 19 — 32 — 74
3-Point goals — Western New Mexico 6-22 (Namao 2-5, Rodgers 1-2, Cook 1-3, Wright 2-8, Tuttle 0-3, Vickery 0-1), UTPB 8-16 (Helgesen 2-3, Bingley 2-4, Portalis 1-1, Munoz 1-4, Hemmeline 1-3, Spencer 1-1) . Total fouls — Western New Mexico 24, UTPB 10. Fouled out — Western New Mexico (Namao, Moore). Technical fouls — Western New Mexico bench. Rebounds — Western New Mexico 28 (Moore 4), UTPB 36 (Quaadman 11). Assists — Western New Mexico 8 (Wright 3), UTPB 10 (Munoz 4).
