LANGLEY, CANADA – #7 UT Tyler completed the CCA Division II Canadian Tip Off Classic with a 2-1 record following a 64-61 loss at the hands of Central Washington on Sunday afternoon.
 
Central Washington escaped with the upset victory in the waning minutes of a back-and-forth affair. Junior Tina Machalova went for 15 points to lead UT Tyler in her third straight outing of 15 or more points to open up the 2023-24 season.
 
The Patriots went 23-for-50 from the field as a team to shoot 46.0 percent from the floor, but went just 1-for-12 (8.3 percent) from beyond the three-point line. Central Washington was able to make up a halftime deficit with nine made three pointers in the contest, going 9-for-26 (34.6 percent) for the game.
 
Central Washington marched back from a 48-42 deficit with 4:22 left in the third quarter with a pair of unanswered three-point makes midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead 61-56. UT Tyler made three-straight defensive stops from that point forward, and used a made jumper from senior Frances King and a converted and-one opportunity from sophomore Meagan Mendazona to tie the game up at 61-61 with 1:18 remaining.  
 
The Wildcats knocked down a trio of free throws and stood strong defensively against the three Patriot possessions in the final minute of the contest to complete the upset victory.
 
Sophomore Gabby Elliott added 14 points and hauled in eight rebounds. The Patriots out-rebounded Central Washington by a 34-to-31 final tally.
 
UT Tyler led 36-35 at the halftime break after out-scoring the Wildcats by a 20-to-17 margin in the opening quarter.
 
UT Tyler will take part in the South Central Region Challenge next weekend in Lakewood, Colo.
 
The Patriots will take on CSU Pueblo and Colorado Christian in a pair of in-region showdowns on Friday and Saturday.