TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's basketball battled all the way back from being down 20 in the third quarter, but that comeback came up just short as they fell 57-52 to Adams State on Wednesday inside the HPC.
 
The Grizzlies got off to a blistering start, going on a 15-2 run over the first 4:34 of game time behind a trio of three pointers to take a 13 point lead. Leila Davis and Jorja Hart each scored three points to cut the lead to seven, but Adams State added one more jumper to make it 17-8 after one.
 
The Patriots shot an even 50% in the second quarter, but four turnovers and three three pointers from Adams State allowed them to hold on to that nine point advantage as the two teams headed into the halftime break. In that frame, the Patriots got six points each from Mileina Sablinskaite and Davis as they went 3-for-4 from the floor.
 
Polina Latysheva made two straight three pointers coming out of the break to answer a Grizzlies jumper and cut the lead down to five points, but a dramatic 15-0 run from Adams State that included three triples and three layups ran their lead out to 48-28. The Patriots had a late rally, getting a Mariah Neal layup and a Davis three pointer, cutting the lead to 15 heading into the fourth at 50-35.
 
Those Patriots roared forward with the run into the fourth quarter as Davis, Hart, and Neal continued to push the offense. They all combined for an 18-2 run from the 36 second mark of the third quarter to the 2:41 mark of the fourth, cutting the once 20 point lead all the way down to just four points.
 
The Grizzlies had one more jumper, but a pair of fastbreak layups from the Patriots, one from Hayley Cumming and another from Davis cut the lead down to just two with 29 seconds remaining. After a foul and one free throw, the Patriots would be down three with 27 seconds left, but a big defensive play from Adams State and the subsequent free throws would ultimately put the game out of reach.
 
Leila Davis led all scorers with 20 points while adding nine rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Mariah Neal chipped in nine points, and Mileina Sablinskaite added eight points.
 
UT Tyler will be back to work on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. as they host Fort Lewis to wrap up the DII Christmas Tournament. That will double as their final game of the 2025 calendar year,