Nov. 24, 2010

Box Score

Arlington, Texas - Arkansas State at UT Arlington Photo Gallery

The UT Arlington women's basketball team dropped a 59-55 overtime loss to Arkansas State Monday at Texas Hall. The Mavs fell to 1-4 on the season while the Red Wolves improved to 4-2.

In overtime, UT Arlington was unable to come up with the win as missed free throws and out-rebounding by ASU led to the loss. The Mavs were out played on the boards by a 44-39 margin and Arkansas State connected on 20 second chance points.

"We are not going to win games if we don't out-rebound people and we don't make our free throws," said head coach Samantha Morrow. "Arkansas State is a good team but it was a game at home that we should have won. We just made some crucial mistakes at crucial times."

In the 45 minute game, the Mavs and the Red Wolves combined for 48 fouls, 13 lead changes and the score tied nine times.

The Mavericks opened the first half by taking a 6-2 lead but ASU managed to come within one and tie the game up twice. Arkansas State maintained the lead the rest of the way and headed into halftime with a 27-22 advantage.

UTA finished the first half shooting just 30 percent from the floor and had zero players in double-digit scoring.

It was the Tamara Simmons and Shalyn Martin show in the second half, as the duo led the team scoring 24 of the Mavs 29 second half points.

UTA retook the lead at the 14:39 mark following a 12-4 run sparked by the two teammates. Both teams went back and forth, tying the game five times before heading into overtime at 51-51.

Missed free throws in overtime proved costly in the Mavs lost as the Red Wolves connected on six of nine from the charity stripe.

Simmons accounted for all four of UTA's points in overtime. She led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range and 2-of-4 from the free throw line.

Martin registered 16 points, four steals and two blocks in 45 minutes. UT Arlington finished the game shooting 38.9 (21-54) percent from the floor and 47.6 (10-21) percent from the charity stripe.

The Mavericks will be back in action Saturday, November 27 when they face Southeast Missouri at Texas Hall. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

"We will try to improve for Saturday's game and try to cut out the mistakes. I'm not just talking about turnovers; I'm talking about missed assignments on defense. Our players need to take an invested interest in it, if not for themselves for our seniors," said Morrow.