Jan. 8, 2011
Final Stats
Arlington, Texas - Freshman Briana Walker led the UT Arlington women's basketball team to their first conference win against Nicholls State, 69-62. The Mavericks improved to 4-9 on the year while the Colonels fell to 5-9.
"I think in the second half we came out with a lot more defensive intensity," said head coach Samantha Morrow. "Overall I am very proud of the effort in the second half by our team but we got to have that from the start."
Walker registered her first double-double of the season with a 19-point, 11-rebound performance in 32 minutes.
"She's an extremely good athlete and she was huge for us today," said Morrow. "She's a freshman with a double-double and that's what we want to see from her."
Both teams battled throughout the 40 minutes of basketball. The Mavericks opened the game with a different lineup which consisted of freshmen's Walker and Michelle Rodriguez. The change in the lineup proved successful as Walker led UTA with 10 first half points which made up for the scoreless Shalyn Martin.
UT Arlington jumped out to an 8-2 advantage in the early minutes of the first half but the Colonels made their way back taking a 13-8 advantage at the 16:27 mark. Nicholls State maintained the lead through most of the second half but the Mavs were able to tie the game twice and retake the lead at 24-22 with 6:18 on the clock.
The Colonels didn't give the Mavs any breathing room as they rallied to an 11-2 run in the final minutes of the half. A 3-pointer at the buzzer by Rodriguez sent the Mavericks into the locker rooms down 35-29.
UTA turned it up in the second half and so did Martin. The Arlington native was held to zero points in the first half and just one shooting attempt.
It was the Martin-Walker show in the final 20 minutes as the duo recorded UTA's first 10 points. Martin went on to finish with 16 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and two steals.
UT Arlington tied the game for the sixth time at 45-45 with 13:26 remaining and went on to lead by seven. Nicholls State's KK Babin carried the Colonels back within one with a pair of 3-pointers (55-54) with 6:57 left.
After two more ties and lead changes, UT Arlington was able to pull away with the win.
UTA finished the game shooting a season-best 50 percent (25-of-50) from the field, 3-of-8 from 3-point range and 64 percent (16-of-25) from the line. Tamara Simmons also recorded a double-double with 15 points, four rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes.
Up next for the Mavericks is a match up against Sam Houston State on Wednesday, January 12. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
Sam Houston State leads the SLC West Division with a 7-8 record. The Bearkats are coming off a 62-53 win over UTSA in Huntsville, Texas. Chanice Smith led SHSU with 18 points.
"Sam Houston State is going to be a lot like Nicholls State. They are a little bigger and they have several players that can score. Last year, we went down to their place and we got beat in double overtime. We just need to make sure to come out and be the aggressors," said Morrow.
