UT Tyler vs. #12 Texas Woman's UTT: 22-5, 17-3 LSC | TWU: 23-3, 18-2 LSC Thursday, Feb. 23rd | 6:00 P.M. Denton, Texas | Kitty Magee Arena		SCHEDULE	ROSTER	STATS
#12 Texas Woman's vs. UT Tyler UTT: 22-5, 17-3 LSC | DBU: 23-3, 18-2 LSC Saturday, Feb. 25th | 1:00 P.M. Tyler, Texas | Herrington Patriot Center		SCHEDULE	ROSTER	STATS

LAST WEEK
 
The Patriots split their pair of conference games last week as they fell by four points to UT Permian Basin but then put the clamps down on RV Angelo State in a dominant 11 point win. Against the Falcons, the Patriots could not outlast the hot shooting of the fourth quarter as UT Permian Basin outscored UT Tyler 27-16 in the final 10 minutes. Against the Rambelles, UT Tyler played one of their best defensive games of the season, holding them to their lowest scoring total and lowest field goal percentage of the season.
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
 
UT Tyler will be looking for their first Lone Star Conference title in program history in just their second season of eligibility. Two wins this week will secure that title, and their fourth conference title in program history.
 
All of those things ride on two wins this week for UT Tyler over #12 Texas Woman's. Just one loss will see the Pioneers take the title. All is not lost however, as the Patriots have been guaranteed at least the #3 seed in the Lone Star Conference Tournament due to the tiebreakers they hold over the other programs competing for that spot.
 
 
HOW WE GOT HERE
 
The Patriots and Pioneers are in the midst of their best seasons of their respective Division II era's, with the season that the Pioneers are having being their single best season in program history.
 
UT Tyler sits at 22-5 on the year and an incredible 17-3 in the midst of the Lone Star Conference slate. The Patriots began their season with a 5-2 record in non-conference competition as they split their opening neutral site games in Lubbock, Texas before going on a four game winning streak. When conference play began, the Patriots won nine straight games before suffering their first loss. Over their most recent ten games, the Patriots are 8-2 and have wins over then #17 West Texas A&M and RV Angelo State.
 
Texas Woman's is 23-3 over their season thus far and began their year with a 5-1 record in non-conference play with their lone loss coming in overtime against Harding back on November 16. The Pioneers following the loss rattled off 21 straight wins, 19 of those coming in LSC play, before losing their two most recent contests against RV Angelo State and UT Permian Basin.
 
NATIONAL ATTENTION
 
The Patriots were marked as under consideration by the NCAA for the South Central Region Tournament when the first rankings came out last Wednesday. They were joined by Adams State, Angelo State, Black Hills State, Colorado School of Mines, Lubbock Christian, Regis, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas Woman's, and West Texas A&M in the initial release.
 
On Tuesday, the D2SIDA National Poll was released, and the Patriots were featured for the fifth consecutive week. UT Tyler sits at #22 this week after their 1-1 stretch. Their current highest ranking this season has been #17.
 
THE SCOUTING REPORT
 
Coming into Thursday's game, the Pioneers are one of the best teams in the country in getting to the free throw line, free throw makes, and do a tremendous job in not turning the ball over. #12 Texas Woman's is 10^th in all of Division II in free throw attempts per game, and they rank fourth in free throw makes per game. In the turnover game, they average just 13.9 turnovers per game, ranking 36^th in Division II.
 
Two Pioneers lead the way in scoring, as Ashley Ingram and Sadie Moyer average 14.8 and 14.2 points per game, respectively. Ingram doubles as the teams leader in rebounding and assists, and Moyer has the second most steals and most made three pointers.
 
Beth Jillson serves as head coach for the Pioneers and is in the midst of her 16^th season with the program. She earned Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2021-2022, and is also the all-time winningest coach in program history.
 
NEXT UP
 
Following this weekend's slate, the Patriots will gear up and head for Frisco, Texas to take on the Lone Star Conference Tournament. That will take place inside the Comerica Center and the game times have yet to be determined due to seeding.