TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's basketball kept their run of form going on Thursday night by taking down a solid St. Edward's team with some efficient offense and tough defense.
 
Just one player scored in double figures for the Patriots, but each player that played over two minutes came away with at least two points as 10 different players got on the board on offense. On the defensive side, UT Tyler forced 23 turnovers and racked up 15 steals while holding the Hilltoppers to just 31% shooting from the floor and only 26.9% from beyond the arc.
 
 A 9-0 run to start the game was the hallmark of the first quarter as Frances King came up with a pair of layups, Victoria Ikenasio knocked down an and-one, and Tina Machalova dropped in a layup of her own. The defense leading to offense was a big factor in the first quarter, as the Patriots scored 10 points off turnovers.
 
A quick three from Matilda Soric cut the Patriots lead down to three with nine minutes remaining in the half, but the Patriots caught fire, going on a 21-7 run to end the half. That run alone saw seven different scorers for UT Tyler, and also in that stretch the Patriots shot 8-16 from the floor and 3-4 from deep while knocking down a pair of free throws. Inversely in that run, the suffocating Patriots defense forced the Hilltoppers to go 1-13 and 0-7 from deep.
 
The second half saw the Patriots play a little slower tempo, but the big lead built up in the first half was more than enough to take care of business. Each run that St. Edward's put together, the Patriots had an answer for. Soric cut the lead to 13 with 4:10 remaining in the third, but a 5-0 Patriots run over the next three minutes gave them breathing room again.
 
The Hilltoppers tried to get themselves back into the game quickly in the fourth quarter, draining a three pointer and two free throws to cut the lead to 12. However, another answer from the Patriots came, as they scored six quick points to run the lead back to 18.
 
The lead never got closer than 13 for the remainder of the game, and the lead stretched all the way out to 20 with just 1:24 to play as the Patriots put away St. Edward's for good.
 
The Patriots had one of their most efficient games of the season on offense, while also forcing St. Edward's into one of their worst. For the sixth time in eight games, UT Tyler forced their opponent into 20 or more turnovers and came away with their second highest total steals on the season.
 
Montse Gutierrez scored a team-high 12 points and chipped in three steals.
 
Tina Machalova snagged a team-high five rebounds, and Frances King led the team in assists with three and steals with five.
 
Next up for UT Tyler will be another home matchup, this time against St. Mary's. That contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time on January 7^th inside the Herrington Patriot Center.