LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International University women's basketball (7-8, 4-5 LSC) continued its home slate on Saturday afternoon and dropped an 86-79 Lone Star Conference decision in double overtime to the UT Tyler Patriots (3-10, 1-8 LSC) on Saturday afternoon.

Nicole Heyn and Patrycja Jaworska knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, respectively, and give TAMIU an early 6-0 lead with 8:25 showing on the first quarter clock.

Later in the period, UT Tyler scored 10-straight points in a span of 2:28 that featured a shot from beyond the arc by Beezy Birchette and six points by Tyreesha Blaylock to give the Patriots an eight-point advantage (15-7) with 1:10 remaining in the first quarter.  

The Dustdevils would later cut the deficit to five (17-12) at the end of the first period. 

In the second quarter, Heyn dropped in two-consecutive layups to shrink UT Tyler's lead to two (27-25) with 2:15 left. 

Kylea Johnson responded for the Patriots as she poured in a pair of layups to give them a 31-25 edge heading into intermission.
 
In the third quarter, Lindsey Thorpe knocked down a pair of three-pointers as part of a 9-0 TAMIU run to give them a three-point edge (41-38) with 4:37 remaining in the period. 

Birchette sank four shots from the charity stripe to give the Patriots a slim 48-47 lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Birchette dished a pass to Lilli Stewart who connected on a shot from long distance to extend UT Tyler's lead to four (60-56) with 3:11 left in regulation. 

The Dustdevils would battle back as Christine Ortega and Eva Langton made layups, respectively, to knot the game at 62 apiece with 1:43 showing on the scoreboard. 

Blaylock and Jaworska each knocked down a free throw to send the 63-63 game into overtime.

In the first overtime period, Birchette connected on a pair of free throws to give UT Tyler a 69-66 lead with 1:50 remaining. 

TAMIU quickly responded when Jaworska found Troi Lucas from three-point range and would ultimately end the first overtime period at a score of 69-69.

UT Tyler would later capitalize in the second overtime by scoring the first eight points of the period and secure the 86-79 victory. 

Ortega posted her third-career double-double including team highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds, including eight offensive boards. Heyn (5-of-13 FG) and Thorpe (5-of-8 FG, 2-of-4 3FG) each registered a dozen points. Jaworska finished with 10 points and a season-high nine assists. 

Birchette paced the Patriots and led all scorers with 20 points (3-of-7 FG, 13-of-16 FT) and nine rebounds. Blaylock scored 18 points and Stewart scored 15 points including a game-high five three-pointers (5-of-10 3FG). Kelsey Crouse finished the game with a double-double of 13 points (10-of-12 FT) and 13 boards.

In the end, Texas A&M International shot 31.5 percent (28-of-89) from the field, 18.8 percent (9-of-48) from three-point range and 56 percent (14-of-25) from the free-throw line while UT Tyler shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, 34.5 percent (10-of-29) from beyond the arc and 73.9 percent (34-of-46) from the charity stripe. The Patriots held the advantage in rebounds (53-41), blocks (1-0). The Dustdevils led the way in steals (13-9) and assists (17-15).

TAMIU will go back on the road for an LSC matchup on Thursday, January 16 against St. Mary's (6-7, 5-4 LSC) at 5:30 p.m.