DENTON, TEXAS – The Patriots shot a combined 43.5% in the second half and 57.1% from three but it wasn't enough to close the halftime gap and complete the comeback. On the defensive side of the ball, UT Tyler held Texas Woman's to just 31.7% shooting from the field and 20% from deep.
 
Liah Davis started out the first quarter hot, scoring the first six Patriots points in the game through the first 4:23 of game time. The Pioneer defense responded tough, holding the Patriots scoreless over the next 5:04 of the first quarter before Lovisa Hevinder connected from deep. UT Tyler managed to hold Texas Woman's to just five points during the scoreless streak, and they went into the second quarter down 13-9.
 
The second quarter proved to be a pivotal one in the contest. Each team traded strong offensive runs, but the run from Texas Woman's to close the quarter proved crucial. After giving up a 6-0 run to begin the second period, UT Tyler responded with their own 9-5 run and bring the deficit back down to five points. The Pioneer's closed out the quarter with a 7-0 run over the last 2:08 to stretch the lead back up to 12.
 
The second half of the game was a complete reversal for the Patriot offense. After shooting just 29.2% in the first half, the Patriots shot 43.5% in the second half. Leading the way on offense was Montse Gutierrez. After going 1-for-3 in the first half with three points, Gutierrez lit up the Pioneer's for 15 points on 4-for-6 shooting and 3-for-4 from three point territory.
 
UT Tyler was able to connect on three of four three point attempts in the period. The Patriots defense showed its grit again, holding Texas Woman's to 25% shooting in the quarter. Both teams traded buckets and free throws for 11 points each, and the Pioneer's retained their 12 point advantage.
 
After trading scores throughout the first 4:52 of the final quarter, the Pioneer's held a 13 point lead. Gutierrez started a 6-0 run for the Patriots by connecting on four straight free throws, and Kelsey Crouse added in a layup to drop the lead down to seven. Unfortunately that was as close as the score got, as Texas Woman's closed out the game on their own 12-7 run to snap the winning streak for UT Tyler.
 
Gutierrez led the way with 18 points on the day. Davis added eight of her own and Crouse recorded seven.
 
Gutierrez, Davis, and Martina Machalova each tallied four rebounds each. Destini Whitehead, Enisa Kamerolli, and Elli Emrich all led the Patriots in assists with two each.
 
The Patriots will now take their break for Christmas and will not have another game until New Year's Eve. That contest will be the Lone Star Conference opener for UT Tyler, and they will face off against Texas Woman's in a rematch of today's game. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
 
After the New Year's Eve game, the Patriots will stay at home for another game on January 2. They will take on Midwestern State and it is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip off. That game will be another rematch from an earlier matchup this season, as the Patriots took down the Mustangs by a score of 55-50.