PUEBLO, Colo. – Despite a determined defensive effort and a strong showing from the bench, the Colorado State University Pueblo women's basketball team dropped a 61–46 decision to 20-ranked UT Tyler on Friday afternoon inside Massari Arena on the opening day of the South Central Regional Challenge.

With the setback, the ThunderWolves fell to 1-3 on the season, while UT-Tyler improved to 2-2. The Pack will conclude the two-event on Sunday, Nov. 16 with a 1 p.m. game against 13th-ranked Lubbock Christian, who opened the day with a 63-53 win over Colorado Christian.

The ThunderWolves, who now scored under 50 points in two straight games, kept the game within reach for three quarters, but a hot-shooting third frame from the Patriots proved to be the difference as they outscored the Pack, 20-10, in the quarter to take a 50-33 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

In the third quarter, the Patriots shot 67 percent from the field and 80 percent (4-for-5) from the 3-point line, while the Pack shot just 27 percent from the field and were 2-for-8 from 3-point line.

The two teams played the first quarter nearly even as the Pack led 8-6 with 2:29 left in the quarter following a hook shot from freshman forward Jada Bobb (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest). Following Bobb's basket, UTT would close the quarter on a 9-4 run to take a 15-12 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play.

Bobb lead the way for the Pack in Friday's game with a season-high 12 points, including scoring eight of those points in the second half and shooting 6-for-9 from the field on the day. In addition to Bobb, junior forward Dasani Nesbit (Froid, Mont./Gillette College) added 10 points and six rebounds in the loss.

The Pack opened the second quarter on a 6-3 run to tie the game at 18-all following a 3-pointer from senior guard Genesis Sweetwine (Aurora, Colo./Northeastern JC) with 7:57 left in the period. The Patriots, though, responded with a 12-5 run over final seven-plus minutes to take a 30-23 lead at the half.

UTT's defense held Sweetwine and senior guard Seneya Martinez (Greeley, Colo./Appalachian State) in check offensively in the game as the Pack's two leading scorers this season finished with just seven points on a combined 2-for-12 day from the field. Martinez and Sweetwine, who each named to the All-Tournament Team at last weekend's D2CCA Tip-off Classic at the Trailhead, entered the game averaging 17.0 and 16.0 points per game respectively.

After being outscored by 10 points in the third quarter, the Pack outscored the Patriots, 13-11, in the final period to set the final margin. In the fourth period, the Pack shot 42 percent from the field and were 2-for-3 from the 3-point line, while UTT shot 33 percent from the field and 1-for-2 from downtown.

The Pack bench played a role in Friday's game as they outscored UTT's bench, 24-11, as along with Bobb's 12 points, senior guard Ruby Sweeney-Spitzeck (Melbourne, Australia/Idaho State) added nine points.

UTT was led offensively by Leila Davis' 15 points and seven rebounds, while Polina Latysheva and Hayley Cumming each had 13 points in the win.

The Pack defense forced UTT into 17 turnovers that turned into 15 points for the Pack, while the Pack had 16 turnovers that UTT managed to score just seven points of those miscues.

UTT held a 42-29 edge on the boards as Nesbit was the top rebounder for the Pack with six, while Milina Sablinskaite had 10 boards for the Patriots. UTT also held 9-4 edge in offensive boards, but the Pack held an 8-6 edge in second chance points.

For the game, the Pack shot just 35 percent (18-for-52) from the field and 22 percent (4-for-18) from the 3-point line, while UTT shot 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field and 38 percent (9-for-24) from the 3-point line.

The Pack also struggled at the free throw line as they were just 6-for-12 (50 percent) from the line. UTT was 8-for-11 (72.7 percent) at the line.

UTT also won the blocked shot battle, 3-2, as Nesbit and sophomore forward Malorie Byrne (Arvada, Colo./Chadron State) each had blocks for the Pack.