TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler held UAFS to just 31.3% shooting on the night and 28% from three to lead the Patriots to a five point victory in a low scoring affair inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
The Patriots ran out to a quick five point lead before the Lions matched it with 7:46 to play in the first quarter.
Montse Gutierrez hit her second three pointer in as many shots to put the Patriots up 8-5 and the program never gave up the lead again on the night.
Gutierrez went 3-for-3 in the first quarter from deep and added in another jumper in the paint to bring her total to 11. She added in another pair of assists and the Patriots jumped out to a 25-5 lead through the first frame.
The defense from the Patriots proved stifling throughout the quarter. After the Lions tied the Patriots at five just 2:14 into the contest, they did not record another point in the quarter. UT Tyler forced five turnovers in the stretch, and turned those into five points on the offensive end.
The Patriots stretched their lead to 21 with 7:14 to play in the second quarter. UAFS responded by holding the Patriots scoreless for the next 6:13 and going on their own 7-0 run.
Liah Davis was the one to break the spell, scoring a pair of free throws with just one minute left in the first half. After a buzzer beating three from the Lions, the score at half was 32-19.
The third quarter for both teams turned out to be close to the same as UAFS outscored the Patriots 20-11 in the period. The Lions shot 75% from beyond the arc and 43.75% from the floor during the quarter. The Patriots went 4:09 without a basket in the middle part of the quarter, and that allowed UAFS to bring the lead to just four as the fourth quarter began.
The two teams traded baskets before UAFS brought the lead down to two with 9:01 to play in the game. That prompted Gutierrez and Davis to spark a run of their own, combining for all eight points on a UT Tyler 8-2 run over the next 5:30 of game time. That run proved to be a game deciding stretch, as the Patriots were able to trade baskets the rest of the way and keep the Lions at arm's length.
Davis and Gutierrez scored 20 and 16 points, respectively. Davis added in eight rebounds and Gutierrez added three steals, each of those leading the team.
Kelsey Crouse found herself all over the stat sheet, scoring eight points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out eight assists on the evening.
The Patriots were outrebounded for just the second time this season, losing tonight's battle by just four. They more than made up for the deficit in points in the paint, outscoring the Lions 30-20 in the category.
UT Tyler will stay at home for a weekend contest against Oklahoma Christian on Saturday. That game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tipoff inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
The Patriots will head to Denton, Texas on Monday to take on Texas Woman's in their first of two consecutive meetings. That will be the final game for the Patriots before Christmas and their last before the New Year's Eve contest against those same Pioneers.
