TYLER, TEXAS – Tina Machalova dropped in a career high 31 points on 50% shooting to give UT Tyler a huge helping hand to take down Oklahoma Christian by a score of 64-61 on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Eagles heading into this game were at 3-15 for the year, but of those 15 losses, seven came by less than 10 points. The Eagles kept pace right away with UT Tyler, as both teams struggled to find their footing over the first four and a half minutes of play, battling to a 4-2 margin.
 
Things would wake up quickly for both teams, as Machalova got herself going quickly with 10 consecutive points as part of a 10-3 run that put the Patriots out in front by five points. That lead would dissipate quickly as the Eagles went on a 6-0 run over just 53 seconds to give themselves a one point lead after the first 10 minutes.
 
Machalova would not cool off in the second quarter as she dropped in six of the first eight points for UT Tyler in the period. Her layup at the 6:41 mark would again give the Patriots a five point lead, but the resiliency of Oklahoma Christian struck again going on an 11-6 run that was capped off by a Kate Bradley three pointer with just 15 seconds left to give them a two point lead. Victoria Ikenasio answered the call and dropped in a layup with some fancy footwork to tie the game just before the buzzer.
 
Both teams would trade buckets to open the second half, and the Patriots grabbed an early lead thanks to a layup from Destini Whitehead and a pair of fadeaway jumpers from Lovisa Hevinder. That rolled into a 15-9 run for the Patriots thanks to five more from Hevinder and then a pair of tough buckets from Frances King.
 
That run stretched the lead to six, but a 7-3 run to close out the quarter from Oklahoma Christian pulled the game to just a two point lead for UT Tyler. In that run, Machalova added in a tough and-one layup but the Eagles were able to go 4-6 from the free throw line and then add a deep three pointer.
 
The fourth quarter began with another Machalova layup, but Bradley answered with a three to cut the lead down to just one point. Both teams would then struggle on offense as the defenses got themselves into a rhythm. Just one shot was made combined over the next 2:57 of gametime and that was a layup from the Eagles to give them a one point advantage.
 
The Patriots stepped up big with 6:07 remaining as Whitehead tied up the game on a free throw, followed by another tough and-one from Machalova and a jumper from Whitehead to put UT Tyler back up five.
 
The Eagles refused to go away, going on an 8-2 run to put them back out in front by a point thanks to a perfect 2-2 from the field and 4-4 from the line. A jumper from Nakia Cullom put the Eagles up three, but Machalova was there yet again, drilling a three pointer to tie it up.
 
Two free throws from Oklahoma Christian put them up two, but Ella Bradley answered the bell with a three pointer of her own to put the Patriots back up one. The Patriots defense would force the Eagles to go 0-4 over the final 1:53 as Machalova dropped in two clutch free throws to make it a three point game and give UT Tyler the victory.
 
Lovisa Hevinder would be the second leading scorer on the day, dropping nine points while adding in seven rebounds. Destini Whitehead had a team high three assists, and Montse Gutierrez chipped in five steals.
 
Next up for UT Tyler will be one of the biggest games of the season as they welcome in #4 Texas Woman's to the Herrington Patriot Center on Tuesday night as they try to keep their home court magic rolling. That game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. tipoff.