UT Tyler's Jasmine Baskin (12) splits two Howard Payne Defenders, Dominique Featherstone (23) and Jada Evans (21) on her way to a score, in their semi-final game at UT's Herrington Patriot Center. ( Lang White / Correspondent )

One more win and the Patriots are going dancing again.

UT Tyler played a suffocating defensive game on Friday as the Patriots scored a 76-47 American Southwest Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament semifinal victory over Howard Payne at the Herrington Patriot Center.

The Patriots (26-1) won their 21st consecutive game to advance to the ASC championship against rival UT Dallas (23-4) at 4 p.m. today.

“It should be a heck of a game,” UT Tyler coach Kevin Baker said.

UT Tyler’s only loss this season was 22 games ago on Dec. 6, a 55-47 defeat to UT Dallas in Tyler.

The Patriots hope to avenge that loss and also secure their second consecutive ASC crown and berth in the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Comets advanced earlier Friday with a last-second 70-67 win over Louisiana College.

The Patriots gave up just 18 points in the second half.

“We played smarter in the second half,” Baker said. “Our goal was to hold them to 54. … Our bench really stepped up,”

Jasmin Baskin, a UT Tyler senior, continued her torrid shooting, hitting 5 of 7 from 3-point land for 19 points. On Thursday, she was 5 of 6 from long distance.

Others in double figures for the Patriots were Makenzi May (17), Brittany King (13), D’Onna Matthews (12) and Madison Wilson (10).

The Patriots outrebounded the Yellowjackets 54-31. Matthews and May led the way with eight boards apiece, while King had seven. Also, Michelle Obach dished out six assists.

As for HPU (16-11), Danyel Bradley led all scorers with 23 points. Bradley and Sarah Van Remmen had six rebounds each.

Both teams were exceptional at the free-throw line; UT Tyler hit all 11 of its charity attempts, while Howard Payne was 10 of 11.

 

UT Dallas 70,

Louisiana College 67

Senior Madi Hess hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, lifting the Comets to the semifinal win.

With 4:22 remaining, the game was tied for the fifth time at 67-67 as LC’s Danisha Allison hit a pair of free throws.

Both teams then went cold over the next four-plus minutes, going a combined 0-for-9.

With barely a tick left on the clock, Hess hit a desperation 3-pointer from the right corner, sending the Comets to their second ASC Championship game in the past three years.

PATRIOT POINTS: The UT Tyler baseball team scored an 8-3 victory over Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday at Irwin Field. The two teams are scheduled to play at 1 and 3 p.m. today.

 

Follow Phil Hicks on Twitter@PhilHicksETFS

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American Southwest

Conference

Women’s Basketball

Tournament

No. 1 UT Tyler 76,

No. 4 Howard Payne 47

HOWARD PAYNE (16-11) — Danyel Bradley 7-20 8-9 23; Presley McKethan 2-5 0-0 6; Kalin Hanna 3-10 0-0 6; Sarahi Castillo 2-5 0-0 4; Sarah Van Remmen 1-7 2-2 4; Kristin Cunningham 1-5 0-0 2; Dom. Featherstone 1-5 0-0 2; Jessica Galaviz 0-1 0-0 0; Jessica Leaks 0-1 0-0 0; Yessenia Cazares 0-4 0-0 0; Erionna Brown 0-1 0-0 0; Jada Evans 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-66 10-11 47.

TEXAS-TYLER (26-1) — Jasmin Baskin 7-12 0-0 19; Makenzi May 6-12 2-2 17; Brittany King 5-6 3-3 13; D’Onna Matthews 5-10 2-2 12; Madison Wilson 3-8 4-4 10; Michelle Obach 1-6 0-0 3; Teylor Seals 1-5 0-0 2; Dia Evans 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 28-64 11-11 76.

Halftime Score — UT Tyler 39-29.

3-point goals-Howard Payne 3-21 (Presley McKethan 2-4; Danyel Bradley 1-5; Kristin Cunningham 0-3; Dom. Featherstone 0-3; Jessica Leaks 0-1; Yessenia Cazares 0-4; Jada Evans 0-1), Texas-Tyler 9-19 (Jasmin Baskin 5-7;

Makenzi May 3-6; Michelle Obach 1-4; Madison Wilson 0-1; Teylor Seals 0-1). Fouled out–Howard Payne-None, Texas-Tyler-None. Rebounds-Howard Payne 31 (Sarah Van Remmen 6; Danyel Bradley 6; Kalin Hanna 6), Texas-Tyler 54 (D’Onna Matthews 8; Makenzi May 8). Assists-Howard Payne 8 (Dom. Featherstone 4), Texas-Tyler 16 (Teylor Seals 6; Michelle Obach 6). Total fouls-Howard Payne 16, Texas-Tyler 11. A-526.

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American Southwest Conference

Women’s Basketball Tournament

Herrington Patriot Center, UT Tyler

Thursday’s Quarterfinals

Game 1: No. 3 Louisiana College 91, No. 6 Mary Hardin-Baylor 90 (OT)

Game 2: No. 2 Texas-Dallas 59, No. 7 Concordia-Texas 47

Game 3: No. 4 Howard Payne 83, No. 5 Hardin-Simmons 64

Game 4: No. 1 Texas-Tyler 113, No. 8 Ozarks 53

 

Friday’s Semifinals

Game 5: UT Dallas 70, Louisiana College 67

Game 6: UT Tyler 76, Howard Payne 47

 

Saturday’s Championship

Game 7: UT Dallas (23-4) vs. UT Tyler (26-1), 4 p.m.

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American Southwest Conference

Men’s Basketball Tournament

Ornelas Gymnasium, East Texas Baptist University, Marshall

Thursday’s Quarterfinals

Game 1: No. 6 Concordia Texas 96, No. 3 Louisiana College 82

Game 2: No. 2 Hardin-Simmons 77, No. 7 Texas-Dallas 63

Game 3: No. 4 Howard Payne 72, No. 5 Mary Hardin-Baylor 64

Game 4: No. 1 East Texas Baptist 67, No. 8 Ozarks 52

 

Friday’s Semifinals

Game 5: Concordia Texas 72, Hardin-Simmons 66

Game 6: East Texas Baptist 75, Howard Payne 73

 

Saturday’s Championship

Game 7: Concordia-Texas (18-9) vs. East Texas Baptist (22-5), 4 p.m.