It was an angry West Texas A&M women’s basketball team that walked into the Falcon Dome to face UTPB.
Not a good situation for the host Falcons.
Karley Motschenbacher scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Lady Buffs to an easy 81-54 victory in a Lone Star Conference game Saturday at the Falcon Dome.
Azia Himeur added 15 to the victory as West Texas A&M improved to 13-3 overall, 6-2 in conference.
The Lady Buffs, ranked 13th in the nation in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll, lost at Angelo State on Thursday, with Motschenbacher and teammate Lauren Taylor combining to go 1-20 from the field.
Their 12-for-17 performance against the Falcons (6-9, 3-6) was much easier for West Texas A&M head coach Josh Prock to watch.
“I thought it was a great response by our kids,” he said. “Unfortunately we had a little setback the other day and we were able to bounce back here.
“We did really well, executing the offense. I was proud of our kids.”
Morgan Helgesen led the Falcons with 15 points, with Makayla Bingley adding 10 off the bench.
UTPB struggled from the field, hitting just 15-of-54 shots.
West Texas A&M was 27 of 54 from the field.
The Lady Buffs took control from the opening tip, going on a 12-2 run in the first five minutes.
Himeur had six points in the run, with Motschenbacher adding four to the streak.
West Texas A&M led 18-7 after one quarter and 41-23 at halftime.
Helgesen hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second half, forcing Prock to call a timeout before a minute had elapsed in the third quarter.
“Just had to get them refocused and remind them who the shooters were,” he said. “She (Helgesen) is a very good shooter, so they had to know where she was.”
That break did just what Prock wanted as the Lady Buffs outscored the Falcons 24-7 the rest of the quarter to break the game open, leading 65-36 after 30 minutes.
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West Texas A&M 81, UTPB 54
Saturday, Falcon Dome
WEST TEXAS A&M (13-3 overall, 6-2 Lone Star)
Jayla Burgess 1-2 0-0 2, Nyalam Thabach 2-8 0-0 4, Zamorye Roberts 3-6 0-0 7, Karley Motschenbacher 8-10 4-4 21, Lauren Taylor 4-7 0-0 9, Azia Himeur 5-5 0-0 15, Kamirah Decker 0-0 2-2 2, Hollie Stalder 2-3 4-6 9, Kyla Kane 0-9 5-6 5, Sienna Lenz 1-2 2-2 5, Zoey McBroom 0-1 0-0 0, Skyleigh James 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 27-54 17-20 81.
UTPB (6-9, 3-6)
Morgan Helgesen 4-10 3-3 15, Alexus Quaadman 1-3 4-6 6, Kamari Portalis 3-11 1-2 7, Avalon Munoz 1-4 2-2 4, Holly Hemmeline 0-6 0-0 0, Makayla Bingley 2-3 4-6 10, Khiara Flugence 1-2 2-2 4, Diavian Spencer 2-9 0-0 5, Ally Haman 1-5 0-0 3, Marissa Seaton 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-54 16-21 54.
West Texas A&M..…. 18— 23 — 24— 16 — 81
UTPB…………………..7 — 16 — 13 — 18 — 54
3-Point goals — West Texas A&M 10-23 (Thabach 0-1, Roberts 1-3, Motschenbacher 1-1, Taylor 1-3, Himeur 5-5, Stalder 1-2, Kane 0-6, Lenz 1-2, McBroom 0-1), UTPB 8-22 (Helgesen 4-7, Hemmeline 0-5, Bingley 2-2, Spencer 1-4, Haman 1-4). Total fouls — West Texas A&M 25, UTPB 22. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — None. Rebounds — West Texas A&M 37 (Thabach 12), UTPB 31 (Quaadman 9). Assists — West Texas A&M 14 (Roberts 4, Stalder 4), UTPB 9 (Munoz 4).
