TYLER--  The UT Tyler women's basketball team came up short on Saturday afternoon, losing 59-57 to Mississippi College at the Herrington Patriot Center.  The loss drops the Patriots' record to 9-10 overall and 6-9 in the American Southwest Conference.

UT Tyler came out on fire in the first half, shooting 55-percent in route to a 37-33 halftime lead. 

Senior Melissa Thomas led the way in the first half, scoring 20 points, including a perfect 4-4 from behind the arc.

The Patriots went up by as many as 10 points in the first frame, beginning with a 9-0 run at the 5:35 mark. 

Mississippi College (11-7, 9-5)  was able to cut the UT Tyler to just four points, led by Caitlin Brown's 10 points.

The Choctaws took advantage of poor shooting by the Patriots in the second half, grabbbing the lead early in the second half.  

With the Patriots down four, senior Lindsey Hausmann cut the MC lead to one point on a nifty three-point play with just 2:50 to play in the game.  

With just nine seconds to play, and down 58-57, Thomas' layup came up short, giving Mississippi College possession.

UT Tyler shot 25-percent in the second half, and just 38.8-percent on the game while the Choctaws finished at 47-percent.  

Thomas finished with 21 points and four rebounds, while Hausmann added 16 and four.  

The Patriots will spend the next four games on the road, beginning with Louisiana College in Pineville on February 2.