SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's basketball used a huge defensive effort and another balanced offensive showing to complete a 68-47 win over St. Mary's on Saturday.
 
UT Tyler shot 37.1% for the contest from the floor and 34.5% from deep while holding the Rattlers to just 28.1% from the floor and 27.6% from deep to secure a 9-0 start to LSC play and a 13^th consecutive win.
 
The entire offensive and defensive effort for the contest was perfectly encapsulated inside the first 10 minutes of the contest. In that first quarter, the Patriots outscored the Rattlers 22-3 by shooting 50% from the floor and 66% from deep while holding the Rattlers to just one made shot and a 5.9% percentage.
 
In that quarter alone, Tina Machalova dropped in eight of her points that included a pair of triples and Brooklyn Palmer scored seven of hers after not missing a shot.
 
The second period saw the Rattlers outscore the Patriots at 11-8 over the 10 minute frame, but the Patriots held them to just 28.6% from the field to avoid the big comeback effort heading into the halftime break.
 
The Patriots held a 30-14 advantage at halftime, and that lead grew to 24 points by the end of the third period as Tina Machalova caught fire to the tune of 10 points behind four made baskets including a pair of three pointers. In that period alone the Patriots continued their huge defensive effort by holding the Rattlers to just 38.5% from the floor and only 14.3% from beyond the arc.
 
The big run came right after halftime in the period, as the Patriots started on an 8-0 run behind five points from Machalova and only allowed the first Rattlers points at the 5:33 mark in the quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, both teams would trade buckets throughout as the Rattlers ultimately outscored the Patriots 22-19. 11 different players for UT Tyler would record a minute played in the period, as Franzi Prinz and Destini Whitehead each scored five points to lead the team.
 
For the contest, the Patriots forced 10 turnovers and snagged six steals while turning those into a 12-3 advantage in points off turnovers. They held a 48-36 rebound advantage, a huge 26-6 advantage in bench points, and a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Tina Machalova led all scorers with 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting and five triples. She chipped in six boards and one assist.
 
She was joined in double figures by Brooklyn Palmer, who scored 10 points on 2-for-4 shooting while knocking in five free throws.
 
Gabby Elliott in her return to St. Mary's scored six points while grabbing a team high seven rebounds and team high three steals.
 
Five different Patriots snagged at least five rebounds, four different players recorded at least two assists, and six different players knocked down a three pointer for the game.
 
Up next for (RV) UT Tyler will be a huge clash with fellow LSC East division foe #21 Texas A&M International inside the Herrington Patriot Center. That contest tips off on Thursday, January 18th at 5 p.m. Saturday will see Texas A&M-Kingsville head to Tyler, Texas for a 1 p.m. start.