Championship Central

By NICK EATMAN
 
            FRISCO, Texas – The best defensive team in the LSC in the regular season, flexed its muscles when it counted the most Friday in the quarterfinal round.
            No. 2 seed UT Tyler put the clamps down on West Texas A&M in the fourth quarter, and came away with a hard-fought 58-54 win at Comerica Center. The win propels the Patriots to the semifinals to play No. 3 seed UT-Permian Basin Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
            The season ends for the Lady Buffs, who fell to 18-13 and were not ranked in the latest South Central regional poll.
            WT had plenty of chances to win this game, especially down the stretch. But they went ice cold from the field, making just of their last 16 field goal attempts. The Lady Buffs went without a field goal for the final 4:36 of the game.
            WT’s Karley Motschenbacher had a chance to tie the game with 1:08 left in the fourth, but missed one of two free throws. On the other end, UTT’s Frances King made a driving layup for a three-point lead with 59 seconds left.
            After two free throws by WT’s Kyle Kane, the Patriots answered with just one made free throw from Destini Whitehead with 10 seconds.
            But after a called timeout, the Lady Buffs never got a shot off as Motschenbacher turned the ball over under the basket with two seconds left. This time, Whitehead would not miss a free throw and her two points put the game away.
            King led the Patriots with 10 points. Gabby Elliott came off the bench to grab 10 rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.
            For WT, Motschenbacher led all scorers with 16 points to go along with eight rebounds. Hollie Stadler scored 10 points and Rosemary Odebunmi pulled down 10 boards.
 
UT Tyler Notes:

• UT Tyler led the LSC in total defense, allowing just 55.4 points per game. With a stingy fourth-quarter defense, they managed the keep the Lady Buffs to just 54 points.
• The Patriots also ranked first in the conference in field goal defense, allowing just 36.5 percent of opposing field goals. WT shot 29 percent from the floor.
• UT Tyler avenged a loss to the Lady Buffs on Jan. 27 in Canyon, 73-54.
• The Patriots are now 4-2 all-time in the LSC Championship.

 
WTAMU Notes:

• The Jan. 27 win over the Patriots on Jan. 27 sparked an 8-3 record in the next 11 games to capture a spot in the LSC Championship field.
• The Lady Buffs ranked second in the LSC in free throw percentage (78.3) but struggled from the stripe, making 12 of 20 (60 percent).
• The Lady Buffs have the most wins in LSC Championship history with 61. The loss drops their over record to 61-20.