Goodwell, Okla.—Notching their third win of the season Friday evening, the Panhandle State women's basketball team took on Friends University and posted a 64-57 victory in their home-opener at Anchor D Arena.

Senior Taylor Acosta and junior Addison Munsch led the Aggies in scoring, with Acosta posting a game-high of 22 points and Munsch contributing 13. Acosta and Munsch combined for 12 boards in the game with six apiece. Freshman post Kim Best fell just shy of a double-double, totaling nine points and a team-high of ten rebounds. Hannah Faulks was also a force at the boards with eight defensive rebounds, and offered up a game-high of ten assists on the night.

The Aggies started strong, taking a 13-8 led after the first period of play. The Falcons fought back and outscored the Aggies 14-13 and 18-17 in periods two and three, but Panhandle State stayed the course, winning the fourth period 21-17 to clinch final victory.

Faulks opened scoring for the Aggies, sinking the first layup of the game, and Acosta gave Panhandle a 6-0 lead with back to back baskets. The home team held the advantage through the third period, not relinquishing the lead until the 7:41 mark in the fourth; Friends hit a three-point shot to claim favor for the first time in the game (44-43).  Munsch and Acosta quickly quelled any momentum shift, scoring on consecutive layups to edge the Aggies back into a three-point lead. The Aggies would allow only one more lead change in the final six minutes of play.

As a team, Panhandle State shot at 32.3 percent from the field, 30 percent beyond the arc and 66.7 percent at the line. Acosta landed three of four long-distance shots and went 5-7 in free-throw attempts. The Aggies outmatched their opponents at the boards 49-34 but lost the turnover battle 24-15, giving up 15 points off turnovers.

Head Coach Victor Esparza accounted on the victory stating, "It was a great team win. I'm proud of our team, and the way we played tonight. We responded well for our first home game of the year." Pleased with the Aggies' defensive efforts, Esparza added, "Our defense was solid for the majority of the game, we know that's going to carry us until our offense gets on a roll." He continued, "We fed off our crowds' energy and it's great to get all the support from the stands."

Panhandle State women's basketball takes back to the road this week with an exhibition matchup against Missouri Southern State University on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Live stats and video links are available online. The team returns to Anchor D Arena the following week with a game against Northern New Mexico College on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. and will enter Sooner Athletic Conference play after the Thanksgiving break.