March 12, 2013
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UT Arlington interim coach Karen Blair predicted a "knockout, drag-out battle" and that's exactly what the Mavericks got in their first-round Western Athletic Conference Tournament matchup with New Mexico State.
The Aggies delivered the final punch, ending UT Arlington's season with a 76-63 victory Tuesday afternoon at Orleans Arena. New Mexico State (15-15) advanced to Wednesday's quarterfinal matchup against No. 1 seed Seattle U.
The Mavericks finished their lone season in the WAC at 7-23. UT Arlington moves into the Sun Belt Conference next season.
"I'm so very proud of this team and their peformance today," Blair said. "They actually fought hard for 40 minutes and never gave up."
Jordan Holub opened up second half with 3-pointer to give UT Arlington a 31-30 lead. The Mavericks took their biggest lead (45-42) on Laila Suleiman's 3-pointer. The Aggies responded with a 7-0 run before Holub ended the run with a jumper.
NMSU put the game out of reach with an 18-2 run to go up 67-49 with less than five minutes left. The Mavericks closed the game by reeling off nine consecutive points before the Aggies closed out the win at the line. Up until the game-deciding spurt, the teams had been tied 11 times and the leaded changed hands on eight occasions.
Suleiman paced UT Arlington with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Holub added 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Aron Garcia had eight points and 10 rebounds. UTA's lone senior, Kiara Parker, ended her career with eight points and five boards.
"I'm very blessed to have this opportunity," Parker said of her time at UT Arlington. "I wish we could have won. I wish we could have played longer. It happens. I'm thankful we got the chance to come to postseason."
The Mavericks shot only 34 percent and had were outrebounded 52-36. The Aggies had a 13-point edge (28-15) in second-chance points.
"I wish we wouldn't have given them so many second-chance points," Suleiman said.
The Mavericks went into halftime down 30-28 behind nine points from Suleiman and eight from Parker. UT Arlington fell behind 8-2 early before rallying to take an 11-10 lead on Parker's put-back off an offense rebound.
The game remained close throughout the half. The Mavericks led on two occasions, both by a point, and there were four ties. UT Arlington did outscore New Mexico State 16-12 in the paint.
The Aggies were held to 31-percent shooting in the opening half, but 16 offensive rebounds allowed New Mexico State to enjoy a 15-7 edge in second-chance points. The Mavericks were outrebounded 30-17 in the half.
