Match Info	Opponent Info
UT Tyler vs. Simon Fraser UTT: 0-0, 0-0 LSC | SFU: 0-0, 0-0 GNAC Friday, Nov. 3rd | 12:30 p.m. CST Langley, British Columbia, Canada		ROSTER	SCHEDULE	STATS
UT Tyler vs. Alaska Fairbanks UTT: 0-0, 0-0 LSC | UAF: 0-0, 0-0 GNAC Saturday, Nov. 4th | 2 p.m. CST Langley, British Columbia, Canada		ROSTER	SCHEDULE	STATS
UT Tyler vs. Central Washington UTT: 0-0, 0-0 LSC | CWU: 0-0, 0-0 GNAC Sunday, Nov. 5th | 2:45 p.m. CST Langley, British Columbia, Canada		ROSTER	SCHEDULE	STATS

THE 2022-2023 SEASON
 
Last season was one of the best in Patriots history and certainly the best of the Division II era. The program finished 27-8 overall and 18-4 in LSC play while qualifying for the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament for the first time. They took complete advantage of that, as they took down all three opponents on their way to claiming that NCAA South Central Regional championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. In that Elite Eight, the Patriots matched up with Ashland, but they proved to be just a little too much as they took down the Patriots and then went on to win the National Championship.
 
NATIONAL ATTENTION
 
At the end of the 2022-2023 season, the Patriots were ranked #14 in the WBCA Top 25 Poll to round out the season of success. On October 31, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association released their preseason poll, and the Patriots were ranked #7. That is the highest ranking since all the way back on November 29, 2016.
 
THE LSC PRESEASON POLL
 
The Patriots were picked third in the preseason edition of the Lone Star Conference Poll, their highest since entering the conference. Angelo State took the number one spot, while Texas Woman's slotted in at number two.
 
For the Patriots, they earned 627 points overall and nine first place votes, also their first since joining the the conference. Meagan Mendazona was named to the Lone Star Conference Preseason Players to Watch list, and Grace Foster and Sawyer Lloyd earned Co-Preseason Player of the Year honors.
 
WHAT COACH ALVIDREZ IS SAYING
 
On the season opening trip to Canada: "What an opportunity to get to go to Vancouver. I know our girls are pretty excited. We've been practicing and have some scrimmages under our belt. We have some things we need to continue to work on but our girls are ready.
 
On the tough non-conference schedule: "Scheduling isn't always the easiest but it worked out well. Strength of schedule is important in Division II and I think overall I think we accomplished what we needed to.
 
On the key returning roster for 2023-2024: "It's very positive to have that type of retention. Now it's just about not becoming complacent in what we did last year and we are going to have to go earn every game that we play."
 
PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS
 

• UT Tyler finished the 2022-2023 year at 27-8 and 18-4 in LSC play.
• The program finished a perfect 11-0 on their home floor inside the Herrington Patriot Center. On the road the team was 11-5 and they went 5-3 on neutral site courts.
• The Patriots return nearly every contributor from last season's teams, including three All-LSC players and three NCAA All-South Central Region Tournament team members.
• The Patriots leading scorer (Destini Whitehead, 12.6 PPG), leading rebounder (Lovisa Hevinder, 6.4 RPG), assist leader (Frances King, 95), steal leader (Montse Gutierrez, 72), and blocks leader (Ella Bradley, 23) all make their return for the 2023-2024 season.
• The Patriots are 2-0 in season openers since head coach Rebecca Alvidrez became head coach, and are 7-2 overall in season openers dating back to the 2013-2014 season.
• In non-conference play last season, the Patriots finished 5-2 overall. Under coach Alvidrez, the Patriots are 12-4 over the last two seasons in those games.
• On their home floor, the Patriots are a combined 22-4 over the last two seasons, including a perfect 11-0 in 2022-2023.
• The Patriots are 8-4 over the last two seasons in neutral site games.
• Head coach Rebecca Alvidrez is now 55-36 in her career as a head coach and 46-17 in two seasons at UT Tyler.

 
 
RED LEAFS NOTES AND TRENDS
 

• Simon Fraser is the only school in Canada that actively participates in NCAA Division II athletics and are members of the GNAC conference.
• Last season the Red Leafs went 10-13 overall and qualified for the GNAC Women's Basketball Championship before losing to number three seed Central Washington.
• As a team last season, the Red Leafs averaged 68.8 points per game while allowing 69.8 points per game to their opponents. They shot 40.1% from the floor and 33.1% from beyond the arc.
• Their leading returner is Jessica Wisotzki, who led the program in points per game last season with 21. She shot 42.9% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc while posting 4.4 rebounds per game.
• This will be the first ever matchup between the two teams.

 
NANOOKS NOTES AND TRENDS
 

• Alaska finished last season at 4-21 and 1-17 in GNAC play for a 10^th place finish in the conference.
• The Nanooks were picked to finish 10^th in the 2023-24 GNAC Preseason Poll released just last week.
• Four starters make their return for the Nanooks, led by Emma McKenney, the Nanooks leading scorer from a year ago. She averaged 12.8 PPG and shot 44.6% from the field. Joining McKenney is the teams leading rebounder from a year ago in Ellen Silva (7.7 RPG)
• As a team last season, the Nanooks averaged 66.6 points per game while allowing opponents to score 76.9 per game. They shot 39.5% from the floor and 30.7% from beyond the arc.
• This will also be the first ever meeting between the two teams.

 
WILCATS NOTES AND TRENDS
 

• Central Washington finished last season at 21-9 overall and a 12-6 GNAC record while making a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance before falling to Cal State San Marcos in the first round.
• The Wilcats were picked to finish fifth overall in the GNAC, and return several key contributors from last season.
• Leading the way for those returners is 2022-2023 GNAC Freshman of the Year Asher Cai and All-GNAC First Team member Sunny Huerta. Cai averaged 14 PPG and averaging 5.5 RPG. Huerta averaged 18.4 PPG on 45.7% shooting from beyond the arc and 46.3% shooting from the floor.
• As a team, the Wildcats averaged 77.9 points per game while allowing 65.8 points per game to their opponents. They shot 45.8% from the floor and 36.5% from beyond the arc.
• This will be the first time these two programs meet.