TYLER, Texas – For the second time in less than a week, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team played with one of the best teams in the nation, No. 5-ranked University of Texas-Tyler, only to fall short in the fourth quarter, 76-63. ETBU is now 13-8 overall and 6-6 in the ASC East.

Taylee Alexander and Morgan Garrett landed in double figures for ETBU. Alexander had her seventh double-double this season with 20 points and 12 rebounds while Garrett collected 14 points and six rebounds. April Leonard had seven points and two assists while Lauren Lee had eight points and three rebounds. For Texas-Tyler, Makenzi May (25 points, three rebounds) and Michelle Obach (24 points, four rebounds) landed in double figures.

ETBU outshot UT-Tyler 39.3%-36% from the field. UT-Tyler's 38.2% from three pointers were more than the 33.3% by ETBU. Both teams shot 60% from the free throw line. ETBU won the rebounding game with a 52-46 edge and 32 of ETBU's 63 points were in the paint. That was more than the 22 by UTT.

ETBU got off to a fast start as they raced to a 10-4 mark. Leonard and Lee would be the catalysts for the start with four points each. The lead would increase to 14-6 after a layup by Leonard and two free throws by Delia Hopkins. UTT would quickly respond with an 8-0 run the end the first quarter with a 14-14 tie.

Alexander started the second quarter with four straight points to make it 18-14. A pattern would then occur as twice a UTT player would make a basket only for Alexander to answer with a jumper. After May hit another three pointer to cut the lead to 23-22, it was Garrett who responded with a three of her own. UT-Tyler would take their first lead of the game at the 4:13 mark at 27-26 before Garrett gave ETBU the lead back. Following a layup by Lee, UTT would respond by taking a 32-30 lead with 34 seconds left. But Alexander would tie the score with six seconds left. UT-Tyler would miss both free throws and both teams went into halftime with the score 32 all.

The third quarter started with both teams trading baskets. Twice ETBU took the lead on a layup by Malaisia Chisholm at 36-35 and Alexander at 45-44. After a tip-in by Kochner fell through to give UTT a 46-45 lead, the Patriots never looked back. They finished the quarter with a 6-0 run to give them a 52-45 lead at the end of three quarters.

The fourth quarter continued with UTT building their lead to 12 points at 60-48. ETBU was able to cut the lead to single digits on free throws by Alexander, Ambrosia Woodard, and Raziya Chase. Another free throw by Cekret Davis would give their last single-digit deficit before UTT pulled away with the victory.

ETBU will travel to Longview Saturday to face off against LeTourneau University in ASC East play at 1:00 pm.