ODESSA, TEXAS – UT Tyler had a seven point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, but an early run from UT Permian Basin in that fourth quarter spelled doom for the Patriots who now fall to 21-5 on the season and 16-3 in LSC play.
Three quick buckets from the Patriots opened up a 6-0 lead, but the Falcons answered with five of their own to keep the Patriots in range early. Over the next 3:46 of gametime, the two teams would combine for one point as the game settled into a defensive battle, but over the final 4:20 of the period, the offenses exploded into 19 points as the Patriots came away with the slim 17-14 lead. In that run, UT Tyler went 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from deep as
Meagan Mendazona got things going from beyond the arc.
UT Permian Basin came out on a 5-2 run over the first two minutes and change of the second quarter and knotted up the score at 19. The two teams would yet again go into an offensive lull, as they combined for just two made baskets as both defenses ramped up the pressure again. The Falcons closed the quarter on top with a narrow 6-5 run that saw UT Tyler go just 1-7 from the field and 1-5 from deep.
Needing a quick spark,
Montse Gutierrez buried a triple to begin the second half and put the Patriots right back on top. The Falcons kept it close, and it took a Gutierrez free throw at the 6:48 mark to level the score at 33-33.
Just a few seconds later,
Tina Machalova answered the call, and ran out on a 6-0 run by herself over 1:41 of gametime to put the Patriots out in front. That run would extend into a 14-7 run to give UT Tyler a seven point advantage heading into the fourth quarter. In that run over the final six minutes and change, the Patriots defense held the Falcons to just 2-9 from the floor while going 5-11 themselves.
The Falcons were now the team needing the quick spark, and they got it immediately in the form of a 6-0 run thanks to an and-one layup and a three pointer to draw within one. That run extended into a 15-8 run as the Falcons missed just two shots over the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.
That run gave the Falcons a two point advantage with just 4:56 to play as the Patriots needed a run of their own to stay right in it. The Falcons kept it going, extending the lead to seven points with 2:48 remaining.
A 5-1 run cut the lead down to just three points with 1:08 left in the game, but that would be as close as the Patriots got as UT Permian Basin was able to knock down enough free throws to be able to keep UT Tyler at bay and finish out the game.
Tina Machalova led the way on offense with 19 points on 6-13 shooting and six more points from the free throw line.
Lovisa Hevinder chipped in 12 points of her own while snagging six rebounds.
The Patriots will now get ready for a big matchup on Saturday afternoon as they take on RV Angelo State in a bigtime LSC contest. That game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start in San Angelo, Texas.
