TYLER, Texas - The UT Tyler Women's Basketball played their Home Opener on Saturday against University of the Ozarks. Coming into the game off of their second straight victory, UT Tyler defeated Ozarks 77-73, improving to 3-3 overall. 

FIRST QUARTER:
UT Tyler opened the game on a 10-2 run that spanned almost four minutes. Carissa Spiker put up UT Tyler's first bucket before the Patriots opened an early six-point lead. 

The Eagles would bring the game within a point with a late three before Mykaela Alfred drained a last second three of her own. Through 10 minutes of play, UT Tyler led 17-13. 

SECOND QUARTER:
Bianca Valderrama opened the second quarter with a bucket in the first three seconds of play to give the Patriots a six-point advantage. 

UT Tyler would hold their early lead through the midway point of the second quarter. With 5:07 remaining, Ozarks took their first lead of the game on a three. 

The teams would trade buckets and leads throughout the final two minutes before the first half buzzer sounded with the teams deadlocked at 31. 

Shadazia Birchette led the way for UT Tyler in the first half, scoring 11 points and pulling in seven rebounds. Alfred would record nine points and a pair of boards. 

THIRD QUARTER:
The Eagles would open the second half on an 8-0 run to take a 39-31 lead before Samantha Odom recorded a basket with 7:47 remaining. 

A free-throw from Aubree Adams with :41 left would cut the lead to three before a late Eagle jumper gave Ozarks the 52-47 advantage through 30 minutes of play. 

FOURTH QUARTER:
The Patriots used their best offensive quarter of the season to spark a fourth quarter comeback on Saturday. 

With 5:04 remaining in regulation, Spiker would record a pair of buckets that gave the Patriots a 67-64 lead. 

Ozarks would cut the lead to two with :28 left in regulation before a pair of free throws from Tyreesha Blaylock gave the Patriots a 77-73 lead. 

The 30-point quarter from UT Tyler would be the Patriots best offensive quarter of the season, propelling UT Tyler to their third straight victory. 

UT TYLER LEADERS:
Birchette would record a double-double in the win, shooting 7-11 from the field and 5-8 from behind the arc to put up 23 points. Birchette added four rebounds in the second half for a game-high of 11. Valderrama would record 14 points while shooting 6-10 from the field. Spiker was the third Patriot to put up double-digit points, scoring 11 points while shooting 5-10 from the field. 

BY THE NUMBERS:
The Patriots shot 28-63 from the field while draining eight threes in the win. UT Tyler went 13-22 at the line, out-rebounding the Eagles 30-27. 

UT Tyler would score 10 points off of turnovers while scoring 30 points in the paint. The Patriot bench contributed 31 points. 

UP NEXT:
The Patriots continue their home stand with matchup on Wednesday, December 5. UT Tyler will host McMurry at 5:00 in the Herrington Patriot Center.