TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler bookended the contest against St. Edward's with dominant first and fourth quarters and ran away with the win by a score of 65-50.
 
Both teams started off sluggish, with the first points of the game coming 2:12 into the game by way of three free throws from the Hilltoppers. Those three free throws would be half of the first quarter points for St. Edward's as the Patriots ramped up the defensive pressure. The Patriots offense ran off a 16-3 run after those free throws to end the quarter up 16-6.
 
UT Tyler held the Hilltoppers without a field goal in the first period as they shot 0-for-12 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. The Hilltoppers got on the board by going 6-for-7 from the free throw line.
 
The second quarter saw the momentum shift in favor of the Hilltoppers. After a layup to start the scoring in the second quarter from Destini Whitehead, St. Edward's ripped off eight straight points to cut the lead to just four. Layups from Kelsey Crouse and Montse Gutierrez temporarily calmed the storm, but another 5-0 run from the Hilltoppers tied the game with just 2:52 left in the first half. The Patriots responded yet again, this time with a 7-3 run with contributions from Claudia Garrido Tribaldos, Elli Emrich, and Tina Machalova.
 
With the four point halftime lead, UT Tyler locked themselves into another battle in the third quarter. Each team traded buckets over the first 5:09 of the third period and the lead remained at four for the Patriots. Over the final 4:51 of the quarter, the Hilltoppers responded with a 9-7 run to cut the lead down to just two heading into the final quarter of the contest.
 
St. Edward's tied the game just 13 seconds into the fourth quarter, but the Patriots turned on the jets and ramped up the pressure and battled right back. Two steals led to four quick points and the lead was safely in the hands of the Patriots for good. St. Edward's cut the lead down to three with 6:43 remaining in the game, but the Patriots responded a three pointer from Whitehead and five consecutive UT Tyler points from Lovisa Hevinder.
 
After the lead was cut to three, UT Tyler closed the game on a 16-4 run to outlast the pressure from St. Edward's. That win will move the Patriots to 9-3 in LSC play and up to 16-6 on the season.
 
Destini Whitehead led the Patriots in points with 17 on the afternoon. Liah Davis chipped in 14 of her own.
 
Elli Emrich led the team in rebounds with eight, and Davis collected six of her own.
 
The Patriots will now hit the road for a three game week next week to close out the regular season. They will take on Cameron, UT Permian Basin, and Angelo State on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Each of those games will be important for seeding heading into the LSC Tournament beginning on Mar. 1.