TYLER, TX- Colorado Christian opened their season on Friday as they took on the host UT Tyler. It was a tight battle throughout, but in the end the Patriots claimed a narrow 61-56 victory. 

The game was a defensive battle to begin with as neither team scored for over three points. Fittingly, Maggie Hutka scored the first points of the season with an and one to level the score at 3-3. Mia Guest poured in a three to give her team the lead 11-8, and a last second shot from downtown connected from Victoria Perez for the 15-8 lead after one. 

The hosts managed to climb their way back into things and tie the game at 15 apiece, but a layup from Nicole Bowlin and a three from maggie Phipps sent CCU ahead 24-17. Hutka drained another three late in the half as the Cougars went to halftime leading 27-20. 

The third quarter started well for the visitors as a three from Perez and a layup by Dasiya Jones ballooned the lead to 12 at 34-22. However, the rest of the quarter belonged to the Patriots as their offense caught fire and saw them outscore CCU 23-11 to take a 43-38 lead into the final frame. 

A Phipps layup cut the gap to one, and Bowlin later tied the game at 48 apiece with a layup. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Cougars would get as Tyler took over from there to close the game out and take the victory by a final score of 61-56. 

Hutka picked up right where she left off last season, notching a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds to go with a team high five assists. Phipps finished with seven points and a pair of steals while Bowlin chipped in eight points and four rebounds. 

The Cougars close play in Texas on November 9 with a 1 p.m. MST tipoff against Lubbock Christian University.