WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The UT Southern women's basketball team picked up its first win of the 2026-27 season on Friday afternoon, defeating Alice Lloyd College 67-56 in the final game of the UC Patriot Classic hosted by the University of the Cumberlands.
The victory also marked the first win of the Greg Tipps era as the Firehawks improved to 1-1 on the young season. UT Southern built a double-digit lead before halftime, pushed the advantage to as many as 20 in the third quarter, and withstood a late Alice Lloyd rally to secure the win.
Ramie Reid paced the Firehawks with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Abbilyn Teter turned in an impressive all-around performance with 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the field. Jaelyn Faulkner added 10 points off the bench, helping UT Southern produce 22 bench points in the victory.
UT Southern controlled the opening quarter despite Alice Lloyd briefly taking a 3-2 lead on an early three-pointer. The Firehawks answered behind strong play from Reid, who scored eight first-quarter points, and carried a 15-14 advantage into the second period.
The game changed in the second quarter as the Firehawks locked in defensively. UT Southern held Alice Lloyd to just seven points in the frame while shooting 50 percent from the floor. A strong run midway through the quarter helped the Firehawks stretch the lead to 32-21 by halftime.
The Firehawks continued to build momentum after the break. Reid, Teter, Faulkner, and Debrionna Jones all contributed during an 18-point third quarter. Back-to-back transition baskets from Faulkner and Teter pushed the margin to 15, and Faulkner's fast-break layup with 1:51 remaining in the quarter gave UT Southern its largest lead of the game at 48-28. The Firehawks carried a commanding 50-32 advantage into the final period.
Alice Lloyd made one final push in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to 12 points midway through the period. UT Southern responded each time the Eagles threatened, getting key baskets from Faulkner, Jones, Totten, and Teter to keep the lead comfortably in double figures. A Teter three-pointer with 1:36 remaining extended the Firehawk advantage to 65-49 and effectively sealed the outcome.
The Firehawks dominated the glass throughout the afternoon, outrebounding Alice Lloyd 49-26 while holding the Eagles to just 31.8 percent shooting from the floor and 20 percent from three-point range. UT Southern also scored 38 points in the paint and received key contributions throughout its lineup in a strong team effort.
By the Numbers
- Ramie Reid: 19 points, 7 rebounds
- Abbilyn Teter: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
- Jaelyn Faulkner: 10 points, 3 assists, 2 steals
- Taya Totten: 8 points, 5 rebounds
- Lauren Smith: 11 rebounds, 1 block
- Debrionna Jones: 6 points, 6 rebounds
- UT Southern won the rebounding battle, 49-26
- The Firehawks led by as many as 20 points
UT Southern returns to action on Oct. 29 when it travels to Stillman College.
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