Nov. 17, 2013
Final Stats
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The UT Arlington Mavericks fell 74-56 to UTSA Sunday evening at the Convocation Center to continue their losing skid.
Senior Laila Suleiman led the Mavericks with a career-high 20 points, while fellow senior Briana Walker finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
"Laila was the only one who played as hard as she could the entire time," UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich said. "She's a fighter. She's going to get after it and play as hard as she can and we need that every night from the whole team."
Suleiman stepped up for UTA in the first half scoring nearly half of the team's 24 points with 11 of her own, including shooting 2-3 from the 3-point line.
The Mavericks struggled to find a rhythm as fouls and turnovers were accumulating early in the first half. The Roadrunners went on a 16-0 run before a pair of free throws from freshman Allea Harris broke the trend. Suleiman was fouled behind the arc for a chance to put in three foul shots. Suleiman knocked down all three, closing the gap to nine, 30-21. UTSA made another push to lead at the half by 12, 36-24.
Walker started the second half with back-to-back buckets to help jumpstart the Mavs. UTSA found its groove as a steal and layup from Karma King gave the Roadrunners a 22-point lead, 61-39. The Mavericks reached the 50-point mark with a pair of free throws from Taylor Caspers.
UTSA shot 50 percent compared to the Maverick's 38.5-percent shooting in the second half. The Roadrunners accumulated 26 points from free throws, reaching the line 39 times throughout the game.
"We turned the ball over too many times and put them on the free throw line too many times. If we take care of the basketball we have a ball game," Gerlich said.
The Mavericks dropped to 0-4 on the season and are back in action Wednesday at the University of Oklahoma in Norman at 7 p.m.. It will make the second Big 12 opponent this season.
