TYLER, Texas - The UT Tyler Women's Basketball opened 2019 with a bang, downing Sul Ross State at home on Thursday night in the Herrington Patriot Center. In the first game since the holiday break, UT Tyler defeated the Lady Lobos 89-63, improving to 7-5 overall.
The Patriots would open the game with a strong first quarter that saw UT Tyler take an early 12-point advantage. Up 8-5 with just under six minutes remaining in the opening quarter, UT Tyler would use an 8-2 run to pull ahead by nine points with 3:26 left on the clock. Sul Ross State would not net a basket in the final 2:58 of the first quarter as UT Tyler opened a 22-10 lead through 10 minutes of play. At the mid-point of the second quarter, UT Tyler took control of the game, pulling away from the Lady Lobos with a 12-5 run. With 20 minutes gone, UT Tyler led the game 43-21.
The Lady Lobos used the third quarter to cut into the Patriot lead but UT Tyler would never allow Sul Ross to come within more than seven points. The Lady Lobos cut the lead to seven with 3:45 on the clock before the Patriots stretched their back to double digits with :05 remaining. A
Carissa Spiker three would give the Patriots a 58-46 advantage through 30 minutes of play. The fourth quarter saw the Patriots outscore the Lady Lobos 31-17, posting their best offensive quarter of the game. A 21-6 run that spanned the first six minutes of play allowed UT Tyler to pull ahead 79-52 with just four minutes remaining. Sul Ross cut the lead to 24 before a layup from
Jade Evans gave the Patriots an 89-63 win.
BY THE NUMBERS:
UT Tyler scored 50 points in the paint on Thursday night, scoring 18 off of turnovers. 21 points came from second chance opportunities while the bench contributed 30 points. The game was tied on just two occasions while UT Tyler shot 47.9% from the field and drained five shots from behind the arc. UT Tyler went 14-18 at the free-throw line.
UT TYLER LEADERS:
Samantha Odom recorded a double-double in the win, scoring 10 points while hauling in 11 rebounds.
Bianca Valderrama led the way with 19 points, two rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Shadazia Birchette went 6-8 at the line, scoring 12 points while hauling in six rebounds.
Aubree Adams added 12 points, a block, and three rebounds.
Carissa Spiker finished the night with seven boards and 11 points, dishing out five assists.
The Patriots host Howard Payne University on Saturday, January 5 at 1:00 p.m. in the Herrington Patriot Center. Admission will be free.
