TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's basketball will start the season 1-0 after a second half comeback against Colorado Christian led them to a 61-56 victory inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
The Patriots shot 53.3% in the second half from the floor and 45.5% from beyond the arc while holding the Cougars to just 20% from beyond the arc in the second half to lead a second half comeback that put the Patriots in a position to win.
The Cougars got out in front in the first quarter, holding the Patriots to 3-15 in the first quarter and 2-8 from beyond the arc as they outscored UT Tyler 15-8. In the second quarter, the Patriots battled right back, going on a 9-0 run behind a
Enisa Kamerolli three pointer, four straight points from
Meagan Mendazona, and a layup from
Lovisa Hevinder. That run put the Patriots up two, but the Cougars put together their won 9-0 run before both teams traded points to close out the half.
The Cougars would hold a 27-20 lead coming out of the half, and they would extend that lead out to 12 points by the 6:22 mark of the third quarter.
Meagan Mendazona scored a layup to cut the lead to 10 at the 6:00 minute mark, and that sparked a huge 12-0 run capped off by triples from Kamerolli and Hevinder to tie the game at 36-36 with 3:30 left in the quarter.
The Cougars knocked in a jumper to take the lead, but Mendazona tied the game right back and then buried a triple before
Ella Bradley made a last second jumper to put the Patriots up five points at the end of the quarter. In the third quarter alone,
Meagan Mendazona scored 10 total points, including two three pointers.
Again the Cougars battled back in the opening stages of the quarter, going on a 10-5 run behind a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor. With 5:18 remaining however, the Patriots all but put the game away behind an 11-1 run that saw
Polina Latysheva score five points and Mendazona drop in a huge and-one layup.
The Cougars would make a late three and a layup at the buzzer, but it wouldn't be enough as the Patriots held on for the win.
Meagan Mendazona finished with 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting and added three three pointers, five rebounds and two steals.
Polina Latysheva scored 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting while adding two three pointers, three rebounds, and a steal.
Lovisa Hevinder grabbed a team-high six rebounds and seven assists in the contest.
The Patriots will now face off with (RV) CSU Pueblo on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
