A week after playing a must-win game against the Newman University Lady Jets, the UAFS women’s basketball team finds itself in yet another similar situation against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin Falcons.
            UAFS (14-6, 6-2) and UTPB (15-6, 6-2) are tied for second place in the Heartland Conference and are one-half game behind league leader Newman (17-3, 6-1), which has been idle since losing to UAFS 83-69 a week ago at the Stubblefield Center.
            If UAFS and UTPB are to keep a glimmer of hope of claiming any part of the regular-season conference title, they need to win on Thursday at the Falcon Dome in Odessa, Texas. The Falcons already own a 77-74 win against the Lady Lions at the Stubblefield Center.
            Tip-off will be 5:30 p.m. Live statistics will be available by visiting the UTPB athletics website (www.utpbfalcons.com).
            UAFS has won five games in a row since losing to UTPB on Jan. 14 and is coming off a lopsided 91-44 conference win against Oklahoma Panhandle State at the Stubblefield Center. The Lady Lions are 3-1 on the road during conference play with their only league road loss a 64-59 loss at Newman.
            The Lady Lions are averaging 77.2 points per game with two players averaging double-figures in scoring – senior center Coby Hill (12.5) and senior guard/forward Vasha Sanders (12.3). UAFS is allowing 67.2 points per game and is forcing 20.2 turnovers per game. Senior guard Tashley Gaines and Sanders lead the team with 46 and 44 steals, respectively.
            UAFS is out-rebounding its opponents by eight rebounds per game (43.3-35.3). Senior forward Whitney Lee and Hill lead the team with 7.4 and 6.5 rebounds per game.
            UTPB has won four games in a row since losing to Newman 78-62 at the Falcon Dome. The Falcons are coming off a 71-63 win against Texas A&M International on Saturday in Laredo, Texas.
            The Falcons are averaging 73.4 points per game with three players averaging double-figures in scoring – junior forward Taniqua Ards (11.6), junior guard/forward Teisha King (10.3) and senior guard Tammy Acosta (10). UTPB is allowing 63.6 points per game and is forcing 16.4 turnovers per game. King leads the team with 42 steals.
            UTPB is out-rebounding its opponents by more than six rebounds per game (40.8-34.2). King leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game.