UAFS vs. UT Tyler UAFS: 6-13, 4-9 LSC  | UTT: 16-3, 11-1 LSC Thursday, Jan. 26 | 5 p.m. Herrington Patriot Center Tyler, Texas		Schedule	Roster	Stats
Oklahoma Christian vs. UT Tyler OC: 3-14, 3-10 LSC  | UTT: 16-3, 11-1 LSC Saturday, Jan. 28 | 1 p.m. Herrington Patriot Center Tyler, Texas		Schedule	Roster	Stats

WHAT A WEEK
 
UT Tyler basketball came away with one of the best weeks of the Division II era last week after take down both Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M inside the Herrington Patriot Center. Thursday night's magic saw the Patriots erase a 16 point deficit with just three minutes remaining in the third quarter and finish the game on a 20-0 run to take down the Lady Chaps by 12 points. On Saturday, that run of form continued, as UT Tyler stepped on the gas pedal and rolled over the Lady Buffs by 22 points as they dominated nearly every facet of the contest.
 
REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ATTENTION
 
The Patriots moved back up into fourth in the latest edition of the D2SIDA South Central Regional Rankings, and only sit behind Texas Woman's, Angelo State, and Colorado School of Mines. The Patriots still have three games remaining against the Pioneers and Rambelles and still certainly have opportunities to move even further up the rankings.
 
For the first time of the Division II era, the Patriots are receiving votes in the D2SIDA National Poll. They have won 11 of their last 12 games, all against Lone Star Conference opponents. Texas Woman's ranks third in that poll, and Angelo State currently sits at 14^th.
 
WHAT COACH ALVIDREZ IS SAYING
 
On the big weekend last week: "What a weekend. It's two teams that have been to where we want to go and to reach. We were able to fight back against Lubbock Christian and that's something we are able to grow with. With West Texas A&M, we shot it extremely well in the first half and just never looked back. They are big wins, but it is a long season and we need to make sure that we stay hungry, stay focused, and continue to grow in areas that we need to."
 
On what the team needs to do to close out the season: "We just need to take it one game at a time. We don't want to look too far ahead. We need to just focus on what's ahead of us and with UAFS and Oklahoma Christian coming in we need to take care of business.
 
On what is making the offense click: "Obviously we are nowhere near where we were in November to where we are now. We knew it would be a struggle with 10 new players. You don't want to peak too early or too late, you just want to be playing your best basketball now, in January, in February, and then going into March. I think that just playing and how they're preparing for practice and if we continue to do that and making habits and building our identity and our culture gives us a good chance."
 
THE SCOUTING REPORT
 
Earlier this season, the Patriots took down UAFS on the road by a score of 74-67. In that contest, Destini Whitehead had a big night with 20 points, Lovisa Hevinder dropped in 13 points and 10 rebounds over 27 minutes, and Tina Machalova added 14 points of her own.
 
UAFS sits at 6-13 on the season and 4-9 in LSC play, but have won three of their last five contests including wins over Midwestern State and Cameron last weekend. The Lions are ranked 77^th in Division II in three point percentage at 33.1%, and are 86^th in turnover margin at +6.6 per game.
 
Aaliyah Prince leads the offense for UAFS, averaging 14.8 points per game. Prince is second in rebounding, first in assists, first in steals, and third in blocks on the team. Ryan McAdams leads the Lions from the bench and is in his second season at the helm.
 
The Patriots took down Oklahoma Christian back on December 30, 2022 by a score of 56-53. In that game, Whitehead dropped 16 points and Ella Bradley scored 11 points and added seven rebounds. The Eagles are 3-14 on the year but 3-10 in conference play and they have lost just three conference games by double-digits. They are coming off of a pair of losses to Cameron and Midwestern State last weekend.
 
The Eagles are 14^th in Division II in free throw attempts per game at 22.71, but are 232^nd in free throw percentage at 65.8%. They also ranked 44^th in rebounds per game at 41.29, and rank 30^th in three point percentage defense at 26.3%.
 
Brooklin Bain leads the Eagles at 14.4 points per game this season. Bain averages 8.2 rebounds per game and has the third highest assists and second most steals on the team.
 
NEXT UP
 
Following this weekend's slate, the Patriots will round out their homestand with a monumental game against #4 Texas Woman's inside the Herrington Patriot Center on January 31^st. That contest will be followed by a road trip to St. Mary's and St. Edward's on February 2^nd and 4^th.