TYLER, Texas – With under two minutes to play and leading by one, the #14/15 East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team would seize momentum as they delivered clutch shots to defeat the University of Texas Tyler Patriots, 72-64. This marks the first time ETBU has beat the Patriots since January 28^th, 2010, when the Tigers won, 64-61, in Tyler. ETBU is now 16-2 on the season.
 
ETBU had four players reach double-figures as Kim Childress led the way with 15 points. Kendrick Clark and Sydney Saxton (six rebounds, seven assists) each had 11 points while Amanda Wilson collected 10 points. For UTT, Bianca Valderrama (17 points) and Carissa Spiker (14 points) reached double-figures.
 
The Tigers outshot UTT 43%-40% from the field overall, picked up 17 steals to UTT's six, and tallied 26 bench points. They also capitalized with 21 points off 25 Patriot turnovers and dominated the points in the paint with a 34-26 edge.  
 
The first quarter started off slow for ETBU as UTT went on an 8-2 run (6:57). ETBU cut the deficit to two points as Erin Meeks (5:17) and Childress (4:41) brought it to within two. ETBU would grab their first lead on a three-pointer by Clark (3:17) to make it 11-10. The Patriots tied the game on a free throw (2:58) only for Childress to give ETBU the lead at 14-11 (2:36). ETBU would finish the quarter with a 5-2 surge to go up 19-13 after one.
 
The Patriots would start quarter two with four straight points (10:00-8:50) to make it 19-17. But Clark (8:38) and Childress (8:03, 7:22) surged ETBU onto a 7-2 run to go up 26-19. UTT answered back with five straight points (7:02-6:42) to bring it to a two-point game at 26-24. Coming off the bench to contribute six points was April Matthews (5:46, 4:59), while Childress (2:49) and Taylor Singleton (1:49) would give ETBU their largest lead at 35-27. UTT saw themselves back within 35-33 by halftime following a pair of three-point plays.
 
After Wilson scored the first basket (9:07) of the second half, the Patriots tied the score at 37 (7:26). ETBU would retake the lead as they would push it to 44-39 with a 7-2 surge (6:43-4:43). UTT tied the game again at 44 before they would grab a 48-46 lead through three quarters.
 
Wilson would tie the game just thirteen seconds in the fourth quarter before the teams would exchange buckets for over the next few minutes. Leading 58-57, ETBU Clark would tally a layup for a 60-57 lead (3:50) only for the Patriots to tie and then go up two at 62-60 with three minutes to play. Sydney Saxton would then put ETBU up 65-62 on five straight points (2:56-2:21). UTT would cut the lead to 65-64 (2:11). But the Tigers delivered the biggest shot of the game when Singleton knocked down a three with 1:47 to go and a 68-64 lead. The Tigers would secure the 72-64 win with made free throws from Saxton in the final minute.
 
ETBU will hit the road Saturday for a 1:00 PM game against the University of Ozarks.