FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS – (RV) UT Tyler women's basketball shot just 29.3% from the floor while UAFS knocked in an impressive 52.1% of their shots to knock off the Patriots on the road by a score of 73-47.
 
The two teams battled closely over the first six and a half minutes, breaking out to a 7-7 tie in the timeframe. To close the quarter however, UAFS ran out on a 9-4 run with a perfect 3-for-3 shooting In the stretch to pick up a five point lead heading into the second frame.
 
That run ran all the way up to 26-13 in favor of the Lions up until two minutes left in the first half as they continued their hot shooting throughout the second quarter. Frances King would knock in the jumper with just under two minutes left in the half, and Montse Gutierrez tacked on a bigtime triple right before the half to keep the Patriots within reach heading into the second half.
 
Both teams struggled out of the gate to start the third frame, as both defenses ramped up the intensity. The Patriots finally semed to get their offense clicking late in the period, led by Destini Whitehead who dropped in four points on an 8-5 run to cut the lead down to 12 points. The Lions continued to answer the Patriots runs, closing out the quarter with a 4-0 stretch that saw their lead grow back to 16.
 
An opening three pointer from the Lions grew their lead yet again, but the Patriots continued to battle their way back into the contest as they went on a 9-4 run in response, led by Mariah Neal with five of those points.
 
That run cut the lead down to 14 points, but a pair of triples just 24 seconds apart from the Lions would all but seal the victory and put the game out of reach.
 
Destini Whitehead led the Patriots with 11 points on the night on 3-for-6 shooting and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
 
Montse Gutierrez grabbed a team-high five rebounds, while Mariah Neal snagged a team-high five steals.
 
The Patriots will look to bounce back from just their fifth loss of the season on Saturday afternoon as they take on Oklahoma Christian. That game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. in Oklahoma City.