Dec. 15, 2009
Jonesboro, Ark. - UT Arlington fought hard in the extra five minutes of overtime but it wasn't enough to overcome the RedWolves of Arkansas State as they dropped a 67-60 decision at the ASU Convocation Center Tuesday night. The Mavericks dropped their overall record to 4-5.
The RedWolves quickly opened the first half with an 8-2 advantage at the 16:49 mark. Shalyn Martin grabbed a defensive rebound, pushing the ball up the floor and found Tamara Simmons at the wing for a wide open three, cutting ASU's lead.
Simmons hit from behind the arc again, tying the game at 8-8 following a Martin offensive board with 15:52 on the clock. Meghan Nelson's tough defense gave the Mavericks their first lead of the game following a steal and fast break layup at the 14:26 mark, making the score 10-8.
Nelson continued to pressure the RedWovles offense collecting her second steal of the game and converting a three-point play.
Arkansas State cut the deficit to one after the Mavericks were caught out of position in the paint. The RedWolves pulled down an offensive board and Sherina Scott was fouled and hit a pair of free throws, making the score 13-12 at the 12:10 mark.
UT Arlington switched to a full court press and took advantage of ASU's 19 first half turnovers converting 16 points. The Mavs lead by as many as 10 points at the 5:45 mark but Arkansas State made a small run cutting into the Mavericks lead. Just before the end of the first stanza, Simmons gave UTA a 29-19 lead heading into halftime after picking Scott's pocket at mid court and converting a fast break layup.
UTA looked to be on track in the opening minutes of the second half leading by 13 points at the 15:48 mark but the RedWolves went on a 16-0 run to take the lead since the 16:13 mark of the first half.
Nelson led the Mavericks to a 47-41 lead with 6:05 left to play after connecting on three baskets and a free throw. Arkansas State came right back tying the game for the fourth time in the second half at 48-48. UT Arlington continued to put the ball in Nelson's hands as she weaved her way through the lane for an easy layup, putting the Mavs up 50-48 with 4:22 remaining.
A foul by Veronica Mergerson tied the game at 50-50 and ASU went on to lead by three at the 1:20 mark.
With the game on the line and tight defense by ASU, Simmons was clutch from three-point range nailing a three-ball in the corner, knotting the score at 53-53 with 53 seconds remaining.
The RedWolves pushed the ball the other way and looked to end the game with a three but were unsuccessful.
After a traveling violation by the Mavericks, Arkansas State had one more chance to win the game with four ticks on clock but UTA's full court press trapped the RedWolves in the front court sending the game into overtime.
The Mavericks looked fine in the opening minutes of overtime maintaining a three point advantage but Arkansas State continued to add pressure to the Mavs. ASU went ahead by four with 1:18 remaining and UT Arlington was forced to foul in hopes of misses. UTA didn't score a basket the rest of the game
Nelson finished the game with 19 points on 7-16 shooting from the field, including 5-9 from the line while Simmons poured in 15 points. Mergerson grabbed 11 rebounds and added eight points.
The Mavs finished the game shooting 30 percent from the floor, 21 percent from three-point range and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Up next for the Mavericks is the St. John's Holiday Invitational in Jamaica, NY. UT Arlington takes on host St. John's in the first round on Saturday, December 19 at 1 p.m.
