BY PHIL HICKS, phicks@tylerpaper.com

It is “Senior Day” for UT Tyler basketball today.

The seniors will be honored between games of the American Southwest Conference doubleheader against Louisiana College at the Herrington Patriot Center.

The women’s game tips off at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.

It has been a remarkable year for the Patriots women’s team. Coach Kevin Baker’s squad is 23-1 on the season and has clinched the ASC regular season championship with an 18-1 record. The Patriots have won a school-record 18 straight games.

UT Tyler is ranked No. 10 in the nation and No. 1 in the South Region.

For the second consecutive year, and the third time in school history, the Patriots will host the ASC Tournament on Feb. 26 to 28. The winner of the tourney gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. UT Tyler is looking for its second straight championship. Last year, the squad advanced to the Sweet 16.

Seniors set to be honored are guard Jasmine Baskin (Copperas Cove, Cisco College), guard Ashleigh Dykes (Milano, Iowa Lakes CC), guard Teylor Seals (Houston, Blinn College) and post Brittany King (Mesquite, Cisco College).

Louisiana College is 16-6 overall and 13-6 in league play.

The Patriot men’s team has had a bit of a rough season, but has lost several close games.

The Patriots are 3-21 on the season and 2-17 in ASC play. The Wildcats are 14-8 and 14-4. They are in a four-way tie for first place with East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons and Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Seniors set to be honored are forward Chris Rios (Houston, San Jacinto College), guard Nick Ross (Carrollton, Texas A&M-Commerce), guard Stephon Hall (Dallas, Eastfield College), forward Caleb Summerville (Cayuga) and forward Josiah Summerville (Cayuga).

 

Softball

The Patriot softball team, ranked No. 6 in the preseason polls, has opened the season with a 9-0 mark after two big wins on Friday (13-1, 15-0 over Hardin-Simmons in Abilene). They are 7-0 in ASC play.

Jackie Mendez, a junior from San Antonio, has been a big part of the Patriots’ success.

She was named the American Southwest Conference Hitter of the Week.

Mendez was hot in a three-game sweep of Sul Ross State, hitting .778 and totaling seven RBIs, two home runs, seven hits and a triple.

Mendez also scored five runs, leading a UT Tyler offense that hit .412 as a team while scoring 30 runs.

The Patriots play Hardin-Simmons at noon today to conclude the series.

They return home to Suddenlink Field for a Monday doubleheader against Chapman University from Orange, California. The games are set for 2 and 4 p.m.

 

Tennis

For the second straight week, UT Tyler senior Harry Kelleher has been named the ASC East Division Male Tennis Player of the Week.

Kelleher, who hails from Sydney, Australia, scored a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over Midwestern State’s Ramon Toyos at No. 3 singles.

He also went 2-0 in singles and doubles in the season opener against Texas Lutheran.

The Patriots are 2-3 on the season and play in Abilene today — 9:30 a.m. vs. Hardin-Simmons and 3 p.m. vs. McMurry. The women’s squads will also play those same schools today.

 

Baseball

The Patriots are in Alpine for an ASC series with Sul Ross State. They have a doubleheader today, beginning at 1 p.m.

UT Tyler was 3-0 in the Clements Fluids Classic at Irwin Field, twice beating Texas Lutheran and concluding with a 4-2 win over No. 16 Trinity.

Senior Buddy McCoy (Haughton, Louisiana/LSU-Eunice) is off to a great start, hitting .391 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.

 

Golf

The No. 1-ranked UT Tyler golf teams begin their spring seasons on Monday.

The men are competing in the St. Mary’s Invitational on Monday and Tuesday in San Antonio.

The women are taking part in the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Invitational in Temple on Monday and Tuesday.

Both teams won all four tournaments they participated in during the fall season.