Game Info.	Opponent Info.
UT Tyler vs. Colorado Christian UTT: 0-0, 0-0 LSC | CCU: 0-0, 0-0 RMAC Friday, Nov. 8th | 5:15 p.m. Tyler, Texas Herrington Patriot Center		SCHEDULE	ROSTER	STATS
UT Tyler vs. CSU Pueblo UTT: 0-0, 0-0 LSC | CSU-P: 0-0, 0-0 RMAC Saturday, Nov. 8th | 4:15 p.m. Tyler, Texas Herrington Patriot Center		SCHEDULE	ROSTER	STATS

THE 2023-24 SEASON
 
Last season the Patriots continued their strong program record under head coach Rebecca Alvidrez. She guided the team to a 27-9 record overall and a second straight appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16, the only team in the South Central Region to accomplish that feat. The Patriots also earned their highest national ranking in the Division II era, and had four All-LSC selections.
 
A NEW LOOK
 
Of the 18 players currently on the Patriots roster, just seven make their return from the previous season. Polina Latysheva, Enisa Kamerolli, Meagan Mendazona, Mariah Neal, Lovisa Hevinder, Madyson Tate, and Ella Bradley will each look to lead a team full of newcomers to the same program heights as the previous two seasons.
 
Among those newcomers are transfers Zionna Barbee (Midwestern State), Shaylee McDonald (Kentucky Wesleyan), Mileina Sablinskaite (Central Arizona College), KK Bass (Western Washington), Jill Lungren Phipps (College of Southern Idaho), and Caitlyn Ryan (North Central) as they will combine with freshman Daphne Olugbagho, Tianna Knighton, Gbemisola Samuel, Maddison Neale, and Chibuzor Emmanuel to help the Patriots continue to build their program.

PRESEASON RANKINGS

The Patriots were selected third in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, sitting behind Texas Woman's and Lubbock Christian. The Patriots earned two first place votes and 614 total points in the poll. In addition to the LSC poll, the Patriots are also in the Receiving Votes category of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 Poll as announced last week. The Patriots are joined in that poll by Texas Woman's (no. 2) and Lubbock Christian (RV) from the LSC, and Colorado Mesa (no. 21) and CSU Pueblo (RV) from the RMAC.

WHAT COACH ALVIDREZ IS SAYING

On preparing for the season: "We are just trying to get better and grow in other areas. We do have new players we are trying to mix in, but we are just trying to take it one day at a time and grow our team."

On playing Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo: "These teams play hard, and they're well coached. The early on games we have never played well and credit to them. Hopefully we have a better start, but what matters is trying to get better each day."

On starting the year at home: "It's nice to start the season at home in front of our home crowd. The last two seasons we have been on the road so it's nice to be in our own gym and have our own routine."
 
PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS

• UT Tyler finished the 2023-24 season 27-9 overall and made their second consecutive NCAA Sweet 16. That win mark is tied for the most in the NCAA Division II era of the program.
• Last season the Patriots finished 13-2 on their home floor, raising their mark to 35-6 under head coach Rebecca Alvidrez inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
• In the last three seasons, the Patriots are a combined 27-13 in non-conference matchups, including a 9-3 record at home in non-conference games.
• Head Coach Rebecca Alvidrez is now 82-45 all time in her four season career, and she is 73-26 in her time at UT Tyler.
• As a team nationally, the Patriots finished 18^th in scoring defense, 29^th in field goal percentage defense, 36^th in winning percentage, 37^th in scoring margin, 44^th in three pointers per game, and 47^th in turnover margin.

 
COUGARS NOTES AND TRENDS

• Colorado Christian will open the 2024 campaign this weekend with matchups against UT Tyler and Lubbock Christian.
• The Cougars finished last season 17-12 overall and 13-9 in RMAC play. They appeared in the first round of the RMAC Tournament, falling to Regis 61-58.
• The top three contributors return for the Cougars from a year ago, as Maggie Hutka, Nicole Bowlin, and Dasiya Jones return to action. Hutka averaged 20.2 points per game while also grabbing 7.7 rebounds per game. Bowlin averaged 10 points per game on a 40.7% mark from three and also pacing the team in assists. Jones led the team in minutes, blocks, and rebounds while averaging 9.4 points per game.
• Carissa Ratliff is serving as the Interim Head Coach for the program after serving as the Assistant Coach for the previous three seasons.
• Colorado Christian holds a 2-0 record over the Patriots, with each of those meetings coming over the last two years.

 
THUNDERWOLVES NOTES AND TRENDS

• CSU Pueblo will get their season underway this weekend as they take on Lubbock Christian and UT Tyler.
• The Thunderwolves went 17-15 overall and 11-11 in RMAC play before qualifying for the RMAC Tournament. They took down Colorado Mesa in the quarterfinals before falling to UCCS in the Semifinals.
• The top three contributors return for the Thunderwolves in Alisha Little, Autumn Watts, and Landri Hudson. Little was named both a D2CCA and WBCA All-American last season and was the NCAA Statistical Champion in double-doubles and blocked shots per game. She averaged 20.8 points per game while leading the team in rebounds and blocks. Watts played the second most minutes on the team while averaging 10.1 points per game and grabbing 6.1 rebounds per game. Hudson averaged 7.8 points per game while leading the team in three pointers.
• Head Coach Tommie Johnson is in his fifth season with the program and holds a career record of 65-71 overall.
• The all-time series is split 1-1 between the two teams, with both matchups coming in the last two seasons.