ODESSA — It's been a busy week for the Sul Ross State women's basketball team.
After taking on Texas Lutheran in Seguin on Saturday, the Lobos traveled to San Antonio to tussle with the No. 5 ranked team in the country before returning home and heading back out on the road for an exhibition game against the Division II University of Texas-Permian Basin Falcons.
The Lobos showed signs of competitiveness at times, but the Falcons came out on the winning end, 86-53, at the Falcon Dome on Monday night.
"We just cannot play well first half and 10 minutes here," said Sul Ross head coach E.J. Lee Smith. "We have to compete the entire ballgame."
UTPB began on a 5-0 run in the first quarter before the Lobos cut the deficit to two after a free throw by Vania Hampton and a layup from Brianna Martin.
Marley Rokas tied up the game at five-all with 5:48 after making a layup. As she got fouled on the play, Rokas gave Sul Ross a one-point lead by making one free throw.
The Falcons then went on a 10-0 run to extend their lead to 15-6 with 2:27 left in the opening quarter.
Sul Ross got to within 10 points during the second quarter after Martin hit a three-pointer. UTPB accelerated to a 16-point lead before the Lobos fought back to within 10 after Rokas got a three-point lay by landing a layup and being fouled to make one free throw.
UTPB held another 16-point lead in the third quarter until the Lobos came back to trail by 10 after a layup from Lauren Lusk.
The Falcons later pulled away by increasing their lead to 26 points at the end of three.
Martin had a big game for the Lobos, tallying 21 points, four rebounds, one steal and one assist while Rokas chipped in with 15 points and four steals.
Victoria Aguayo added with eight points.
The Lobos grabbed 29 rebounds while shooting 19 for 22 from the free throw line. Martin knocked down three of the Lobos' four 3-pointers.
"I'm very proud of Bri. This is the second game she has really stepped up. She's the only that's been shooting three's consistently," Smith added. "We have a couple of players that are mentally tough and I hope the rest of them are going to be like that. We have a good team. We just need to play together for 40 minutes."
>> RECORDS: UTPB (3-1); Sul Ross (1-3)
>> UP NEXT: The Lobos travel to Brownwood to take on Schreiner University at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.
