TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's basketball will start the season 2-0 for the first time in the Rebecca Alvidrez era after a 66-41 win over CSU Pueblo on Saturday afternoon in the final game of the 2024 Women's Basketball South Central Regionl Challenge presented by Sqwincher.
 
The Thunderwolves shot just 23.9% from the floor in the contest and 18.5% from beyond the arc as the Patriots defensive press reigned supreme. On the offensive side of the ball, Meagan Mendazona scored 18 points and buried three triples. Enisa Kamerolli and Polina Latysheva scored 13 and 12 points each to join Mendazona in double figures.
 
The first quarter saw each team trade blows, with the Patriots ultimately leading 21-19 after the first frame. In the second quarter, the Patriots ramped up the defensive efforts, holding the Thunderwolves to an 0-for-11 mark in the quarter from the field and holding them to just five points in the frame.
 
With an eight point lead in their favor at halftime, the Patriots took to bolstering their offense while still putting the clamps down on defense. In the third quarter alone, the Patriots shot 50% from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc. Meagan Mendazona scored nine of her points in that frame, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots held the Thunderwolves to just 2-for-13 from the floor in the period.
 
In the final quarter of the day, the Patriots outscored the Thunderwolves 18-11 behind 46.2% from the field and another pair of triples in the period. They held CSU Pueblo to just 27.3% from the floor in the period and just 25% from beyond the arc.
 
For the game, the Patriots held a 26-4 advantage in points off turnovers, 30-17 advantage in bench points, 18-10 in points in the paint, and 11-4 in second chance points.
 
UT Tyler will now set their sights on Dallas Christian inside the Herrington Patriot Center on November 16.