Box Score SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO – The Patriots offense shot 44.3% from the floor and 33.3% from deep and also held the Mustangs to just 29.5% shooting for the game as they closed out their road trip with a 69-44 victory.
Defense set the tone for the Patriots in the contest, and that began from the opening possession.
Montse Gutierrez picked up a steal on the first set of the game and
Destini Whitehead was able to cash in the layup and the Patriots took off. That defense for the Patriots held Western New Mexico to just six points over the first 3:55 of the contest.
Following a three pointer from the Mustangs, the Patriots held them scoreless for the following 2:34 of gametime. Despite the strong defense, the Patriots offense couldn't quite get going until
Lovisa Hevinder and Gutierrez knocked down a pair of three pointers 59 seconds apart and the Patriots held a 14-11 lead after one.
The second quarter proved to be pivotal, as the Patriots turned up the heat on offense and defense. The defense held the Mustangs scoreless for the first 4:46 of the quarter, and that allowed the offense to go on a 13-0 run before the three pointer from the Western New Mexico.
That run was spurred on by three pointers from Hevinder, Whitehead, and
Kelsey Crouse. Crouse also added in two free throws and
Liah Davis knocked in a pull up jumper. Davis went on to score six of the final nine points for the Patriots in the period as they held the Mustangs to just six points in the 10 minute frame.
Through the first 5:21 of the third period, the Patriots went on a 10-6 run to extend their lead all the way out to 23 points. Five different Patriots players scored on the run and the defense forced the Mustangs into four turnovers. Over the final 3:47 of the quarter, the Patriots went on a 10-4 run to finish out the quarter up by 29.
The first 1:52 of the final quarter saw Western New Mexico go on their most successful run of the contest. The Mustangs ran out on a 7-2 run that saw them go a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor. The Patriots defense held firm, holding the Mustangs to just 10 points on 4-16 shooting and also didn't allow a three pointer in the quarter.
Lovisa Hevinder led the way with 17 points in the contest and she knocked in 4-7 attempts from beyond the arc to continue her streak of hot shooting.
Liah Davis added in 12 points of her own to be the second highest scorer.
Kelsey Crouse flirted with a double double in the contest, coming up just one point short after tallying nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Patriots defense came away with a season high 16 steals and ten different players found themselves on the scoreboard in the contest.
Next up for UT Tyler is a three game homestand beginning with Texas A&M International on Jan. 27. That contest is scheduled to tipoff at 5 p.m.
Following that game, the Patriots will host Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday, Jan. 29. That game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.
On Jan. 31, the Patriots will bring in Texas Woman's for a makeup game that was originally scheduled for New Year's Eve. That Jan. 31 contest is scheduled for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
