CANYON, Texas – The #6 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M couldn't find an offensive rhythm on Friday afternoon as they ended their season with a 66-56 loss to the seventh-seeded UT Tyler Patriots during the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball South Central Regional Quarterfinals at Kitty Magee Arena in Denton, Texas.
 
WT started the first quarter by capitalizing on early defensive rebounds but struggled with shooting efficiency, converting only 3 of 13 field goal attempts. Claire Graham's three-pointer, assisted by Kyla Kane, provided a brief offensive highlight. UT Tyler established momentum with consistent scoring in the paint and from beyond the arc, including a three-pointer from Mileina Sablinskaite, pushing it ahead.
 
Despite a strong effort from the free-throw line, with Kyla Kane and Kenadee Winfrey each contributing two points, the Lady Buffs trailed throughout the quarter. UT Tyler maintained its lead, ending the quarter with a last-second three-pointer by Mariah Neal, resulting in a 21-12 advantage over WT.
 
The Lady Buffs faced a challenging second quarter as UT Tyler capitalized on its offensive opportunities. UT Tyler initiated an early scoring run, converting multiple inside shots to extend its lead. WT responded with defensive rebounds but struggled to convert on the offensive end, with Chloe Callahan adding two points from free throws and Karley Motschenbacher scoring on a layup to keep pace.
 
Despite efforts to close the gap, including a late jumper from Randi Harding, the Lady Buffs could not contain UT Tyler's scoring, which was highlighted by a 3-pointer from Hayley Cumming in the final seconds. The quarter concluded with UT Tyler leading 36–20.
 
WT started the third quarter trying to close the gap but faced challenges with shooting accuracy, hitting 4 of 16 field goals. Despite this, Kyla Kane and Karley Motschenbacher both contributed crucial points, with Motschenbacher also adding a steal and a fast break layup to cut into UT Tyler's lead.
 
UT Tyler responded with efficient shooting, converting 6 of 12 shots, including two 3-pointers. The visiting team capitalized on fast breaks to extend its advantage. The Lady Buffs' efforts were highlighted by strong defensive rebounding, but the quarter ended with UT Tyler leading 50–28.
 
WT initiated the fourth quarter with strong defensive pressure, highlighted by seven steals, including an early one from Randi Harding leading to free throws that cut into the deficit. The team capitalized on turnovers, scoring 15 points off UT Tyler's ten turnovers during the quarter.
 
Offensively, the Lady Buffs found success beyond the arc as Randi Harding and Kyla Kane each connected on multiple 3-pointers. The team also controlled the paint, outscoring UT Tyler 8–4 in that area. Despite this effort, the quarter ended with UT Tyler maintaining its lead, closing the game with a 65–56 victory.
 
Randi Harding led the team with 21 points, converting 8 of 16 field goals and hitting three from beyond the arc. Karley Motschenbacher contributed defensively with four steals while adding eight points and four rebounds. Claire Graham scored nine points and recorded three steals, effectively supporting the team's defensive efforts. Kyla Kane added seven points and two blocks, showcasing her presence on defense.