AUSTIN, Texas – J.P. scored a career-high 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals, and the St. Edward's women's basketball team turned in a dominant defensive second half to defeat the Texas Permian Basin Falcons 78-59.
 
Texas Permian Basin jumped on St. Edward's early, hitting a quick barrage of 3-pointers in the first quarter and forcing five turnovers to rush to a 12-4 lead on a Kamari Portalis 3-pointer four minutes into the game. 
 
The bench steadied St. Edward's for a third consecutive game. Backup point guard RILEY MOORE showed her constantly improving command of the offense with a confident pull-up 3-pointer and found ISABEL LANGENBERG with a pinpoint skip pass for a corner 3-pointer. Langenberg also had an offensive rebound for a putback. 
 
Langenberg also triggered a showtime fastbreak in the closing seconds of the first quarter, securing a defensive rebound and making the long outlet to KIANA BENNETT, who redirected the ball to BAILEY FEATHERSTONE with a touch pass for the layup as time expired. St. Edward's bench scored 12 of the team's 20 points, J.P. added five, and RAMSEY ROBLEDO hit a free throw to cut the deficit to 23-20 after the first.
 
The second quarter opened almost identically. Four minutes into the quarter, Texas Permian Basin hit several early 3-pointers and pull-up jumpers to take a nine-point lead. The Falcons shot 3-for-5 from deep, celebrating each make with exaggerated poses.
 
J.P. responded with 10 points in the second quarter. The sophomore point guard repeatedly got into the middle of the defense, hitting 3-for-4 from the field and the same from the free-throw line. She also led the Hilltopper defense at the point of attack, recording three steals and bringing the Hilltoppers back to tie the game at 37 with a free throw with 27 seconds remaining. 
 
Khiara Flugence briefly recaptured the lead on a jumper with less than 10 seconds remaining. However, Robledo took the inbounds pass the length of the floor and drained a 3-pointer as time expired for the 40-39 lead at the break. 
 
Makala Bingley led UTPB with three 3-pointers, and the Falcons shot 6-for-11 overall from long range. J.P. led all scorers with 15 points on seven shots, and Langenberg added eight on 3-for-3 shooting. 
 
J.P. continued the takeover into the third quarter, opening with a pull-up jumper through contact and converting the free throw for the 3-point play to spark a 9-0 run to start the half. St. Edward's sophomore point guard continued to dissect the defense off the bounce for nine third-quarter points, and Langenberg and Featherstone combined for nine points on 4-for-5 shooting to take a 62-49 lead into the fourth. 
 
Bennett found her footing offensively with a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. J.P. added another seven points, and the defense limited UTPB to 0-for-10 shooting from the field, though the Falcons did make 10 free throws. 
 
St. Edward's bench outscored UTPB's second minute 26-19. Langenberg scored 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, and Featherstone added 10 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Bingley and Portalis scored 11 each for the Falcons. 
 
The Hilltoppers improved to 9-11 with a 5-6 record. St. Edward's will host Angelo State on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.