MAVERICKS TOP NORTHWESTERN STATE 74-68
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2009
Arlington, Texas - In what was probably the most exciting game played at Texas Hall this season, the UT Arlington Mavericks defended its home court with a victory over East Division leader Northwestern State 74-68 on Saturday, February 7.
With the win, the Mavericks improved to 7-0 at home, 7-1 in conference action and notched their sixth straight victory.
Leading the team in scoring for the third consecutive time was senior Candice Champion who recorded her 10th 20-plus performance of the season, finishing with 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from the free throw line and grabbed six boards.
The game came down to the final 23 seconds, as Northwestern State came back from a 10 point deficit at the 8:12 mark to come within one point following a Renotta Edwards jumper, making the score 69-68.
UTA controlled the first half jumping out to an 11 point lead following a Erin Dixon layup at the 6:15 mark, making the score 27-16. The Mavs led by as many as 13 at the 1:22 mark but back-to-back three's by the Lady Demons cut the deficit to 39-30 heading into the locker rooms.
The Mavericks recorded 20 point in the paint to the Lady Demon's zero in the first half.
Northwestern State opened the second half hot from behind the arc, hitting three three-pointers to come within one point with 16:28 on the clock, to make the score 42-41.
UTA fed the ball down low to its key player, Champion as she brought the Mavericks up by seven at the 15:03 mark, making the score 50-43. The Mavericks stretched out to a 12 point advantage, their biggest lead of second half following a pair of made free throws by Meghan Nelson with 9:39 left in the game.
The Lady Demons went head-to-head with the Mavericks in the final eight minutes of the game, as they came within one point three times but UTA never gave up lead.
With the score 67-66 and 1:31 on the clock, UT Arlington put the game in Champion's hands which proved successful as she scored a bucket in the paint.
UTA went back on top by three but a quick jumper by Edwards with 23 seconds left put the Lady Demons down by one point.
Northwestern State was forced to foul hoping for miss free throws but the Mavs connected on five of their six attempts at the line.
For the game, the Mavericks shot 41.5 percent from the floor, 11.1 percent from three-point range and 70.4 percent from the charity stripe.
Nelson finished with 16 points and seven assists while Simmons and Shalyn Martin each scored 10 points.
The Mavericks out-rebounded the Lady Demons by a 44-37 margin and scored 42 points in the paint compared to 12 for Northwestern State.
Brooke Shepherd recorded a game-high 21 points and Demetria White and Edwards each had 14 points.
The Mavericks will be back in action in Lake Charles, La. where they will take on McNeese State on Wednesday, February 11. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
