TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler women's basketball team cut a seven-point deficit with less than a minute remaining to just a single point, but was unable to jump ahead in a 54-52 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville.

A Shequana Jackson lay-up with six seconds left narrowed a once seven point-lead for the Javelinas down to just a single point at 53-52 with six seconds left on the clock. UT Tyler fouled quickly and after a make and a miss on the ensuing free throws for Texas A&M-Kingsville did have the last-second opportunity for a prayer at the buzzer that missed the mark and ultimately put an end to the come-back attempt.

Kelsey Crouse led the way for UT Tyler with a season-high 17 points and hauled in seven rebounds to lead a resilient effort for the Patriots. Tyreesha Blaylock scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while Shequana Jackson made an immediate impact for the Patriots with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds as she continues to work herself back into the starting rotation following a midseason injury.

UT Tyler stayed within striking distance throughout the entirety of the second half, never allowing the lead to reach double-digits for the Javelinas despite a 30-25 halftime advantage in favor of Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Patriots were unable to tie the game up at any point in the second half, but did get the game back within a single possession thanks to a three-point make from Crouse and a three-point play the hard way by Blaylock just a few seconds later to draw the score down to 52-50 with 18 seconds remaining.

Texas A&M-Kingsville made just 1-of-2 from the free throw line on the ensuing possession following a Patriot foul, allowing Jackson's lay-up with six seconds to go to milk the deficit down to just a single point.

UT Tyler shot 35.7 percent (20-of-56) from the floor for the night, but connected on just 1-of-13 from beyond the three-point line. The Patriots dominated the rebounding battle 46-to-26, 19 of which were on the offensive side of the floor for UT Tyler.

Five of Jackson's eight rebounds were offensive on an evening in which eight different Patriots hauled in a rebound. The 46 boards for UT Tyler is the second highest rebounding total for the squad this season.

UT Tyler and Texas A&M are set to square off once again on Saturday afternoon for a rematch of Wednesday night's contest that went all the way down to the wire. Tip-off for that game is set for 2 p.m.