KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – UT Tyler dropped their first Lone Star Conference game of the season on Saturday afternoon after a sluggish start and a hot shooting Texas A&M-Kingsville team sunk their comeback hopes in the second half.
 
It was all Javelinas over the first 10 minutes, as they ran out to an 11-6 lead. Both teams would go just 3-13 from the floor in that first period, but Texas A&M-Kingsville knocked down a three pointer and went 4-4 from the charity stripe to open up the lead.
 
That five point lead from the Javelinas was extended even further after an 8-0 run to start the second quarter. The Patriots mustered just one shot over 3:19 of gametime while committing four turnovers. That allowed the Javelinas to go 3-6 from the field to open up the lead.
 
With their backs against the wall, UT Tyler responded with a 10-5 run to close out the half down just eight points as they tried to claw themselves back into the game. Three points each from Madyson Tate and Tina Machalova combined with two points from both Frances King and Destini Whitehead seemed to start to get the offensive wheels going.
 
Both teams would trade buckets over the first 2:41 of the third quarter, but it was the long range sharpshooting from Texas A&M-Kingsville that helped them to a 10-7 run and extend the lead back out to 11 points. Another solid response from the Patriots came in the form of Lovisa Hevinder and Machalova, as they combined with Franzi Prinz to outscore the Javelinas 11-8 over the final 5:49 of the quarter. In that run, the Patriots allowed the Javelinas to attempt just three shots, and also forced three turnovers.
 
Down nine to start the final frame, the Patriots were poised to make a run, but the Javelinas seemed to have an answer to every positive step from UT Tyler. A quick three to open up the quarter moved the lead to 12, and that spurred a 12-8 run in favor of the Javelinas to keep the Patriots at bay for the remainder of the contest.
 
Tina Machalova was the lone double-digit scorer for the Patriots on a day where they shot just 33.3% from deep and 23.5% from beyond the arc.
 
Lovisa Hevinder snagged six rebounds and Frances King chipped in a team-high four assists.
 
UT Tyler will now return home for a five game home stand in which they play three teams associated with the D2SIDA South Central Region Rankings and two teams currently ranked inside the top 25.
 
Those contests begin on Thursday with Lubbock Christian coming to town for a 5 p.m. tipoff inside the Herrington Patriot Center.