DENTON, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler women's basketball program ended their season with a second straight trip to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen after falling to Texas Woman's by a final score of 65-51 on Monday night.

The Patriots made the Sweet Sixteen in back to back seasons for the second time in program history, and picked up their second NCAA Tournament berth in just three seasons under head coach Rebecca Alvidrez.
 
The Pioneers used a big first quarter to distance themselves, as they outscored the Patriots 24-10 over the 10 minute frame. They started the game on a 15-3 run before Gabby Elliott and Frances King finally got the offensive engines turning in the final minutes of the period, capped off by a King buzzer beating three pointer.
 
A 6-0 run to begin the second for the Pioneers put them up 20, but Meagan Mendazona got her night moving with a 6-0 run on her own to cut the lead back to 14. Mariah Neal dropped in a triple, and Ella Bradley capped off a 5-0 run by herself to cut the lead to 10 points with 4:41 remaining. Bradley dropped in four more, and King drilled a turnaround jumper with 13 seconds left in the half to cut the lead to 13.
 
After a triple from the Pioneers to open up the second half, the duo of Mendazona and Bradley dropped in a 5-0 run to cut the lead down to 11 as the Patriots defense held the Pioneers scoreless for nearly three minutes. However, the Pioneers held the answer, going on yet another run to get the lead back to 15. Two more buckets from Mendazona in the final minutes of the quarter cut the game to 13 with 10 minutes remaining.
 
The Patriots found early offense in the final frame as Mendazona and Montse Gutierrez each made layups, but the Pioneers went shot for shot to keep the lead at arms length. Ella Bradley made another layup with 5:37 left in the contest to cut the lead to 11, but the Patriots could not find the netting down the stretch as the Pioneers controlled the clock and eventually completed the win.
 
Meagan Mendazona led the Patriots with 16 points on the night after an efficient 7-for-13 performance. She tacked on six rebounds and three assists while being named to the South Central Region All-Tournament Team for the second straight season.
 
Ella Bradley added in 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting while adding a team high seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
 
Tina Machalova was also named to the South Central Region All-Tournament team after her bigtime performances throughout the tournament.
 
UT Tyler finishes the season 27-9 overall after another spectacular year after making the tournament for the second consecutive season and in just the third year of being Division II eligible.