SAN ANGELO – Coming off their first home loss in 2022, the Angelo State women's basketball team rebounded to close their regular season on a high note, defeating regionally-ranked UT Tyler in a fourth-quarter comeback that sees the Rambelles clinch the fourth seed and a first-round bye in the LSC Tournament next week.

The Patriots got off to a hot start, scoring a third of their points in the opening quarter alone to take an 18-13 lead.

From the 3:15 mark in the first quarter to the 7:55 mark in the third quarter, the Rambelles did not hold the lead at all.

With the scores tied at 24 at halftime, the Rambelles went on a 9-3 run to start the third quarter to take their largest lead of the game, six points; however, the Patriots responded with a 14-3 run for the next six minutes to take a five-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Down eight with 7:30 left in the game, the Rambelles would go on a 17-6 run for the remainder of the game to claim a three-point win. Blakely Gerber single-handedly scored eight or her ten points in 95 seconds to tie the game at 48-all.

The Rambelles' defense played a pivotal part down the stretch. The Patriots did not get a shot off in the final 55 seconds of the game in three possessions.

Payton Brown made a layup with 32 seconds left to give the hosts a one-point lead; following a Patriot timeout, Madeline Stephens drew a charge to turn the ball back over into the Rambelles' hands.

A pair of made free throws by Brown stretched the lead to three, and on the ensuing possession, the Rambelles forced a jump ball with the possession arrow in their favor.

Getting the ball with only two seconds left, the Patriots would lose the ball out of bounds to clinch the game for the Rambelles.

Brown led the Rambelles with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the free throw line; the Rambelles' point guard also assisted six times and nabbed four steals as the Rambelles forced the Patriots into 18 turnovers.

Stephens scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including making one from deep. She grabbed seven rebounds and three steals, assisting three times and blocking a shot.

Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant and Gerber scored ten points each with McGhee-Pleasant grabbing eight rebounds also.

Sawyer Lloyd scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds and assisted four times, claiming a pair of steals on the defense end; and on her senior day, Ashlynn Sharp hit a pair of threes off the bench.

The Rambelles finish the regular season 15-12 on the season and 12-4 in conference play. After starting the season 0-8, the Rambelles' win this afternoon ensures they will be the fourth seed in next week's LSC Tournament and receive a first-round by as well.