WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- UT Tyler used an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to pull within a point in Saturday's visit to Midwestern State, but the Mustangs never surrendered the lead down the stretch to hang on for the 64-60 victory over the Patriots.

Kelsey Crouse and Lilli Stewart knocked down three-pointers to spark the Patriots' comeback, which cut a 9-point MSU lead down to 54-53 with 4:14 to play. UT Tyler answered the next three Midwestern State scores to stay within a point until the closing seconds of regulation when the Mustangs made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 16 seconds to claim the victory.

Beezy Birchette led UT Tyler with team-highs of 15 points and 8 rebounds, and Tyreesha Blaylock added 12 points.

After the defeat, UT Tyler dropped to 3-19 overall and 1-17 in Lone Star Conference play, and the Patriots are now 0-8 within the division. Midwestern State is now 9-13 overall, 7-11 in LSC play, and 4-4 within the division.

Turning Point: UT Tyler never led in the game and trailed by double digits for all but 30 seconds of the third quarter, and Mica Schneider's three-pointer to open the fourth quarter gave Midwestern State a 50-37 lead with 9:48 to play. The Patriots answered with a 16-4 run over the next six minutes, pulling within a single point when Lilli Stewart drilled a three-pointer with 4:14 remaining to cut the MSU lead to 54-53. The Patriots got back within one point twice more down the stretch and had a chance to tie in the closing seconds.

How It Happened: Although UT Tyler got off to a slow start, shooting 1-for-11 from the field in the first quarter, the Patriots were able to stay within five (13-8) after the first quarter by getting to the line to make 5-of-8 free throws. Tyreesha Blaylock opened the second quarter with a layup that cut the lead to 13-10, and Beezy Birchette made a three-pointer which tied the game at 13-13. Midwestern State produced a 12-2 run to take a 10-point lead, 25-15, and the Mustangs maintained the 10-point spread into halftime with a 29-19 margin.

Mica Schneider opened the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers, sparking an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 37-19 within the first two minutes of second-half play. That was the Mustangs' largest lead of the game, but Carah Burdette and Kylea Johnson capped a 12-2 run with back-to-back three-pointers to trim the margin to 8, 43-35, with 1:33 remaining in the third quarter.

Midwestern State took a 47-37 lead into the fourth quarter, and Schneider knocked down another trey to extend the lead to 50-37 with 9:48 left. Kelsey Crouse, Kylea Johnson, and Tyreesha Blaylock scored the next three baskets, trimming the lead to seven as the Patriots got back into the game with the start of a 16-4 run that cut MSU's lead to 54-53 with 4:14 to play. Carah Burdette answered an Eternity Jackson three, keeping the Patriots within one at 57-56 with 2:28 left. After Schneider made a pair of free throws, Beezy Birchette scored inside to make it 59-58 with less than a minute remaining. Schneider hit two more free throws, and Blaylock made a layup with 18 seconds left to pull UT Tyler back within one, 61-60. After Schneider made two more free throws with 16 seconds left, UT Tyler's potential tying three-pointer was off the mark, and Mica Schneider was able to make one-of-two free throws with 7 seconds remaining to provide the final 64-60 cushion.

UT Tyler Standouts: Beezy Birchette led the Patriots with team-highs of 15 points and 8 rebounds with a block and 4 steals, while Tyreesha Blaylock added 12 points. It was the ninth time this season Birchette scored in double figures, and it was Blaylock's sixth time in double figures. Kylea Johnson and Kelsey Crouse scored 8 points each, as Crouse also finished with game-highs of 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Midwestern State Standouts: Mica Schneider scored a game-high 25 points, hitting 6-of-13 three-pointers while scoring the rest of her points from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. The only other player in double figures for the Mustangs was Elizabeth Cathcart, who came off the bench for 12 points and 5 rebounds. Schneider was the Mustangs' rebounds leader with 7.

By The Numbers: Midwestern State used a 43-34 rebounding edge to post a 14-11 margin in second chance points… UT Tyler registered a 12-11 edge in points off turnovers and a 6-4 margin in fast break scoring… The Patriots shot 40 percent or better in each of the final three quarters, hitting 45 percent (19-for-42) from the field after the opening quarter to finish at 38 percent (20-for-53) overall… UT Tyler was also at 38 percent (8-for-21) from three-point range… Midwestern State shot 37 percent (23-for-62) overall and 30 percent (7-for-23) from three-point range.

What's Next: UT Tyler returns home for its final two home games of the season, hosting West Texas A&M on Thursday, Feb. 20, and Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Feb. 22. The season concludes with road games the following week at UAFS and Oklahoma Christian.