Basketball | 3/18/2024 2:08:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (March 18, 2024) – It's Sweet 16 time in Denton, Texas. The Texas Woman's basketball team is playing in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship tonight in Kitty Magee Arena.
 
One seed TWU (31-4) will meet the six seed UT Tyler (27-8) for the third time this season and first time in the post season. The two teams will meet tonight at 7 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight next week in St. Joseph, Missouri.
 
The Pioneers advanced to the Regional Championship after defeating the five seed Adams State on Friday, March 16, 74-63. On the other side, UT Tyler defeated two seed Colorado Mesa in the semifinal round, 68-56.
 
UT Tyler enters the game as the defending South Central Regional Champions, while the Pioneers will look to make history tonight and win their first regional title.
 
TIP-OFF

•  The Pioneers are at home for the Regional Tournament. Get your tickets here.
• TWU faculty, staff and students can request free tickets to tonight's game here. 
• Live Stream and Live Stat Information can be found here.
• For all information regarding the tournament, visit the tournament central link here.

CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY

• HISTORY: The Pioneers and Patriots last met on Thursday, Feb. 29 on the road in Tyler, Texas. TWU won the game and clinched the Lone Star Conference Regular Season Title with the 69-59 victory. Ashley Ingram led the Pioneers with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, and Scout Huffman was the other Pioneer to score in double digits with 10 points and also grabbed six rebounds. UT Tyler and TWU also met on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 this season in KMA, and the Patriots won the meeting 61-55. TWU is 5-3 all-time against the Patriots.
• SEMIFINAL SUCCESS: For the Pioneers, in the semifinal win over Adams State, three Pioneers scored in double digits: Ashley Ingram, Leila Patel and Gionna Carr. Ingram led TWU with 17 points and 10 rebounds. TWU rode an early 28-18 advantage after the first quarter to the win. UT Tyler had three players score in double figures: Meagan Mendazona, Mariah Neal and Tina Machalova. Mendazona led the Patriots with 17 points. UT Tyler overcame a slow start and outscored Colorado Mesa 25-18 in the fourth quarter to claim the win.
• PROTECT THE BALL: In their semifinal win on Saturday, the Patriots forced Colorado Mesa to turn the ball over 18 times for 19 Patriots' points. TWU turned the ball over 14 times in their win for 16 Adams State points. The Pioneers will look to protect the rock tonight to lead to the win.