LONGVIEW, Texas - The UT Tyler Women's Basketball team traveled east to take on LeTourneau University on Thursday night. The Patriots defeated the Yellow Jackets 69-46, improving to 12-8 overall. 

Senior, Bianca Valderrama led the way for UT Tyler, scoring 23 points on the night. Valderrama added eight rebounds in the win. Carissa Spiker would score 12 points, sinking a trio of three's. 

The first 10 minutes of play saw an even battle as the teams combined for 26 points. Each team would post 13 in the opening quarter before UT Tyler used some strong defense to open a lead in the second. The Patriots played what turned out to be the best defensive quarter of the season on Thursday in the second. The Patriots took a 14 point lead in the quarter after allowing just one point to LETU. Through 20 minutes of action, UT Tyler led 28-14. 14 points would also be the fewest points allowed in a half for UT Tyler this season. 

The Patriots came out of the break strong with a 20-point third quarter. The Patriot defense remained strong in the third as UT Tyler stretched their lead to 23, allowing just 11 points from LETU. The fourth quarter saw the highest offensive output for either team as the Patriots and Yellow Jackets combined for 42 points. The fourth quarter saw a 21-21 draw and preserved the Patriots 23 point lead, taking the game 69-46. 

UT Tyler connected on four shots from behind the arc, three off the hands of Spiker. A 13-18 night from the free throw stripe and 23 points from the bench sparked the Patriot win. UT Tyler scored 36 of their 69 points in the paint and dominated the boards, hauling in 53 rebounds while scoring 24 second chance points. 

The Patriots will head east again on Saturday when they take on East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.