KINGSVILLE, Texas -- Senior guard Beezy Birchette notched her first double-double of the season to lead UT Tyler in a 55-38 road defeat to Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday night.
Birchette scored a team-high 12 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the Patriots, who were held to 20 points through the first three quarters before producing an 18-point fourth-quarter outburst.
Texas A&M-Kingsville improved to 3-7 overall and 2-6 in Lone Star Conference play, as the Javelinas won their second consecutive conference game. UT Tyler dropped to 2-10 overall and 0-8 in Lone Star Conference play.
Turning Point: The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the game, and Tyreesha Blaylock scored to tie the game at 4-4 with 6:11 remaining in the first quarter. Texas A&M-Kingsville finished the quarter on a 10-0 run and scored the first points of the second quarter to take a 17-4 lead with 7:15 remaining in the second quarter. Beezy Birchette broke the Patriots' 10-minute scoring drought with a layup in the paint with 5:52 left in the second quarter, but UT Tyler never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
How It Happened: Both teams combined for just 40 first-half points, as Texas A&M-Kingsville held a 26-12 edge after the first two quarters. The Javelinas extended the lead by six points with a 14-8 third-quarter scoring edge for a 40-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter. UT Tyler shot 54 percent (7-for-13) from the field in the fourth quarter, generating an 18-15 edge in the final period for the final 55-38 margin.
Both teams produced their best shooting in the fourth quarter, as Texas A&M-Kingsville shot 27 percent (14-for-52) through the first three quarters before hitting 38 percent (6-of-16) in the fourth quarter to finish at 29 percent (20-for-68) overall. UT Tyler's fourth-quarter performance lifted the Patriots to 28 percent (15-for-54) overall.
UT Tyler Standouts: Beezy Birchette notched her first double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and she scored 10 of her 12 points in the final 12:45 of the contest. Kelsey Crouse came off the bench to add 10 points. Kylea Johnson added 8 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and Lilli Stewart grabbed 8 rebounds.
Texas A&M-Kingsville Standouts: Bridget Upton scored a game-high 13 points with 7 rebounds, and Daisah Purnell added an 11-point performance in just 13 minutes of action off the bench for the Javelinas. Bri-Anna Soliz led the team in rebounds with 8, and Ravae Payne added a 7-point, 7-assist performance.
By The Numbers: Beezy Birchette has reached double figures in points four times and double figures in rebounds three times, but Thursday's effort was the first time she was in double figures in both categories in the same game this year… Birchette was one rebound away from a double-double in each of the first two games of the season… Kelsey Crouse (10 points) has scored in double figures in five consecutive games, her eighth time in double figures this season… Texas A&M-Kingsville notched a 38-35 edge in rebounds, thanks in part to 16 offensive rebounds which led to 12 second chance points… The Javelinas recorded a 12-6 edge in second chance points and a 20-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
What's Next: UT Tyler continues its Lone Star Conference road trip with a visit to Texas A&M International on Saturday, Jan. 11. The Patriots return home on Thursday, Jan. 16, to host Oklahoma Christian.
