MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS – A pair of slow starts to the third and fourth quarter gave the Muleriders the lead, but the Patriots climbed back both times and eventually took down Southern Arkansas in overtime to move to 5-1 on the season.
Both teams went back and forth over a first quarter that saw the Patriots take a 19-15 advantage after the first 10 minutes. Destini Whitehead and Lovisa Hevinder led the way with six points each as UT Tyler held the Muleriders hot offense in check. The key run of the quarter came at the 6:30 mark as the Patriots went on a 12-8 run in which they missed just three shots and forced the Muleriders into a 3-12 shooting slump.
Back-to-back three pointers to open up the second quarter from Hevinder and Montse Gutierrez stretched the lead out to 10 and was the largest lead of the half for either side. A pair of Tina Machalova free throws at the 5:22 mark would be the last points of the quarter for UT Tyler, as they went through a drought of cold shooting. However, the Muleriders would be able to add just one layup of their own at the 4:49 mark before the Patriots defense held them scoreless for the remainder of the half.
At the half, UT Tyler held Southern Arkansas to just 25% from the floor and 18.5% from beyond the arc while forcing the Muleriders into seven turnovers as they took a 29-23 lead going into halftime.
The Muleriders got hot to start the second half, running on a 14-0 run to take the lead by five over the first 2:48 of the third quarter. That run was answered by a 5-0 run capped off by a beautiful scoop layup from Ella Bradley to tie it back up. Tina Machalova ended the quarter with a buzzer beating layup to end a 10-5 run for UT Tyler and give the Patriots a slim two point lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.
Another hot start to the fourth quarter for Southern Arkansas led to a 7-0 run and a 49-44 lead with 7:38 remaining in the game. Victoria Ikenasio got into the scoring column with a layup, but it was answered by a Mulerider layup to keep the lead at five.
With 3:53 remaining, Whitehead snagged a loose ball at the end of the shot clock and got fouled going the other way. A made free throw followed by a big three pointer from Gutierrez and a layup from Bradley gave the Patriots a slim lead. Another free throw gave the Patriots a two point lead, but the Muleriders answered. Both teams would trade buckets in the final minute, forcing overtime for the first time in the 2022-2023 season.
A quick three from Southern Arkansas was answered again by a Bradley layup, and two Machalova free throws put the Patriots back in front. After a jumper from the Muleriders put them up again, Whitehead answered with a driving layup.
With 2:32 remaining, the Muleriders jumped back in front with a big three pointer, but Machalova came up clutch again with a layup followed by a steal and another made free throw to put the Patriots up one. Another pair of free throws from Machalova put the Patriots up three, and an empty possession led to a backbreaking three pointer from Hevinder to put the Patriots totally out of reach.
The key to the contest was the Patriots defense, as they held the Muleriders to just 30% shooting from the field and only 25% from beyond the arc on the way to holding them 27 points under their season average.
Destini Whitehead lead the Patriots with 20 points on 7-12 shooting. Three others were in double figures as Machalova had 13, Hevinder had 12, and Gutierrez had 11.
Hevinder added a team-high eight rebounds while also making a team-high four threes.
Whitehead, Hevinder, and Gutierrez each had three steals and Machalova and Whitehead each had three assists.
Next up for UT Tyler will be another matchup against a GAC opponent in Henderson State. That game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
