LAST TIME OUT
 
Last week the Patriots took part in their fourth straight Lone Star Conference postseason tournament and took on Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Patriots battled close, but ultimately the Javelinas used hot shooting throughout the game to take down the Patriots and give them their first quarterfinal exit of the Division II era.
 
ALL-REGION
 
For the first time in three years, the Patriots women's basketball program will be represented on an All-Region team. Meagan Mendazona put together a brilliant effort on the floor for the Patriots this year, and she was named D2CCA All-South Central Region Second Team for her efforts. She is the first all-region player since assistant coach Liah Davis was named to the D2CCA All-South Central Region Second Team in the 2021-2022 season.
 
Mendazona has started 28 games for the Patriots up to this point while averaging a team high 13.5 points on 47.2% shooting. She is averaging 4.4 rebounds per game while totaling 56 assists and 37 steals. This year she also earned her first All-LSC First Team nod of her career in addition to being named to the LSC All-Academic Team.
 
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
 
The Patriots will be making their third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and they have been incredible over the first two. Back in the 2022-2023 season, the Patriots made the run all the way to the Elite Eight while taking down the #5, #1, and #7 teams in the regional tournament before falling to the #1 seed in the Elite Eight. In 2023-2024, the Patriots took down the #3 and #2 seeds before falling to the #1 seed in the region in the Sweet 16.
 
The Patriots are the only team in the South Central Region to appear in the Round of 32 or the Sweet 16 in each of the last two seasons.
 
PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS

• UT Tyler finished the 2023-24 season 27-9 overall and made their second consecutive NCAA Sweet 16. That win mark is tied for the most in the NCAA Division II era of the program. The Patriots are the only team in the South Central Region to win a game in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments.
• Last season the Patriots finished 13-2 on their home floor and are now 13-1 this season, raising their mark to 48-7 under head coach Rebecca Alvidrez inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
• In the last four seasons (including 2024-25), the Patriots are a combined 31-13 in non-conference matchups, including a 12-3 record at home in non-conference games.
• Head Coach Rebecca Alvidrez is now 107-49 all time in her four season career, and she is 98-30 in her time at UT Tyler.
• Coach Alvidrez won her 100^th career game on January 30^th, 2025 as the Patriots took down Cameron. It took just 148 games for Alvidrez to reach the milestone, and she is in just her fifth season as a head coach.
• The Patriots dominant defense has shown throughout the season yet again, as they rank inside the top 30 nationally in field goal percentage defense (8^th), scoring defense (8^th), scoring margin (24^th), and three point percentage defense (23^rd).
• On the offensive side, the Patriots have hit their stride, now ranking inside the top 50 nationally in three pointers per game (11^th), assist/turnover ratio (24^th), assists per game (38^th), and free throw percentage (28^th).
• The Patriots have a variety of leaders on the floor thus far. Ella Bradley ranks inside the top 12 in the LSC in assists (12^th), steals (2^nd), and steals per game (2^nd). Meagan Mendazona is 10^th in points per game, 6^th in free throws, and 5^th in free throw percentage. Lovisa Hevinder is grabbing the 8^th most defensive rebounds per game while also knocking down the 11^th most three pointers.

 
LADY BUFFS NOTES AND TRENDS

• West Texas A&M heads into the NCAA Tournament at 18-12 overall after finishing the regular season with a 12-10 LSC record. They are currently on a two game losing streak after falling to Lubbock Christian in the LSC Tournament and Eastern New Mexico in the regular season finale.
• The Lady Buffs are averaging 66.4 points per game while allowing 63.9 points per game to their opponents. They are shooting 39.6% from the field and 29.9% from deep. Their opponents are shooting 39% from the floor and 28.7% from deep.
• Kyla Kane is the leading scorer at 13.2 points per game. She also averages 4.1 rebounds per game while dishing out 50 assists and picking up 23 steals. She also leads the team in blocks with 18.
• Head coach Josh Prock is in his fourth season with the Lady Buffs and is 83-47. He holds a career record of 292-177 in his 16 seasons.