OPSU Men and Women Drop Games in Odessa

Odessa, Texas-The Oklahoma Panhandle State University men’s basketball team
started an exciting game against the University of Texas of the Permian
Basin Saturday afternoon with Damar Hill hitting a 3-point shot followed by
back-to-back 3-pointers by Carlos Tapia-Ponce.

Another trey by Bill Lee put the Aggies up 12-0 early in the game. OPSU
remained in the lead until UTPB tied it up 18-18 with 9:20 left in the half.
OPSU fell behind by four, and tied it at 22 all at the six minute mark, but
UTPB scored 11 and held OPSU to two as the Falcons went to the locker room
ahead 33-24 at halftime.

The Aggie scoring fell apart in the second half, especially from beyond the
arc as it dropped from 54.5 percent in the first half to only 30 percent in
the second half. The Falcons led the entire second half, eventually closing
out the game with a 65-49 win. Head coach Jerry Olson said, "I thought we
played hard, we just didn’t make shots." UTPB is now 5-7 and 1-3 HC and OPSU
is 4-11, 0-4 HC.

Bill Lee earned a double double with 12 total points and 10 rebounds.
Tapia-Ponce and Krys Randolph each contributed nine points.

The men take on Newman University Thursday, Jan. 17 at home in conference
play at approximately 7:30, following the women’s game that begins at 5:30.
The games will be sponsored by Wirtz Lumber and Stanfield Printing.

Admission to OPSU basketball games is $5 for adults, $2 for children 12 and
under and senior citizens aged 65 and above. Children under five and OPSU
students are admitted free. OPSU faculty and staff and immediate family will
also be admitted free with an ID.

Odessa, Texas-The Oklahoma Panhandle State University women’s basketball
team traveled to Odessa to play a Heartland Conference game on Saturday
against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and returned home with
a 48-59 loss.

Aggie shooting in the first half was not just cold; it was at the freezing
mark as the women shot only 11.5 percent in the two-point range and 20
percent from outside. At halftime, UTPB led OPSU by 17.

The second half began much the same, but the Aggies started fighting back
and cut the Falcon lead to nine with 5:41 left to play. Aggie scoring
improved enormously as the women went 10-23 in the two-point range and 4-8
for treys, but it was not enough to overcome the Falcon defense. OPSU’s Rosa
Quinonez hit every shot she put up, going 3-3 inside, 3-3 outside, and 2-2
at the free throw line to lead the Aggie scoring with 11 points. Meagan Bell
put in nine and Whitley Coca added eight points and pulled down six
rebounds.

The Falcons had three players in double digits, led by Teisha King with 26.
UTPB improves their overall season record to 8-5 and 2-1 HC. OPSU moves to
3-11 overall and 0-3 HC.

Head coach Charles Terry said, "We shot the ball horribly in the first half,
but I’m very proud that we made runs to get back in the game. We are getting
better and that gives us a chance to move up in the Conference standings."

Newman University comes to Goodwell Thursday, Jan. 17 for a conference
match. The women’s game begins at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s game following.
Both games will be sponsored by Wirtz Lumber and Stanfield Printing.

Admission to OPSU basketball games is $5 for adults, $2 for children 12 and
under and senior citizens aged 65 and above. Children under five and OPSU
students are admitted free. OPSU faculty and staff and immediate family will
also be admitted free with an ID.