Dec. 20, 2007

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - UT Arlington women's basketball evened its record at 4-4 with an 80-58 win over Elon at the SpringHill Suites Holiday Classic on Thursday. Freshman Tamara Simmons led all scores with a season-high 23 points, which included going 5-for-5 from beyond the arch.

Junior Kitara McMoore with 14 points and 10 rebounds led the Phoenix who fall to 5-7 on the season with the loss. Junior Erin Dixon led the Mavs on the glass with a season-high 12 boards.

Elon jumped out with a quick five points in the opening minute of the game, but UTA countered with a 12-0 run capped by a tre from Simmons.

Senior Maryann Abanobi hit a pair at the line to drive the Mavericks lead to nine with 13:28 on the clock.

Katie Whidden hit a layup at the 9:20 mark to bring the Phoenix within five, but sophomore LaTosha Duffey answered with a three on the other end of the court to put the Mavs up 22-14.

Dixon sank a three, which sparked an 8-0 Maverick run to lead 36-18 with five minutes remaining in the half.

UTA closed out the final two minute of the first half with a 9-0 run to take its largest half-time lead of the season at 23-points (47-23) into the locker room.

Dixon hit her second three of the game 15 seconds into the second half to push UTA's lead to 26 (50-24).

Elon put together a 11-6 run to get within 21 with 15:50 left on the clock, but UTA countered with a 6-3 run over the next three minutes to rebuild its lead to 24 (62-38).

After seven straight made free throws by the Phoenix, sophomore Kiarra Shofner went 2-for-2 from the line to keep the Mavs up by 20.

UTA built its lead back to 25 with a 9-4 run capped with a layup from sophomore Kristina Grace with 4:12 left in the game.

Sophomore Meghan Nelson hit a layup with 1:20 on the clock for the Mavs 80th point of the game, its most in regulation this season.

The Mavs will face-off with host Charlotte, at 7:30 p.m. (ET) tomorrow in the final game of the SpringHill Suites Holiday Classic.