March 9, 2013
Final Stats
ARLINGTON, Texas- UT Arlington fell 72-66 to the New Mexico State Aggies to close out the 2012-13 regular season at College Park Center Saturday, March 9.
"We had to continue to shoot until we started knocking down shots," UT Arlington coach Karen Blair said.
It was Senior Night at College Park Center and the Mavericks lone senior Kiara Parker picked up her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Laila Suleiman tied her career-high with 19 points for the Mavs.
"It's just been a crazy, funky, but enjoyable ride," Parker said about her four years at UT Arlington. "Through my career I had a great coaching staff who was supportive on and off the court."
Both teams struggled early shooting from the floor as the teams were tied at 5 before NMSU pulled ahead with a 16-0 run. The steak was stopped when Chauntandra Williams grabbed a layup for her first points of the game.
The Mavericks continued to push the ball with Laila Suleiman scoring 9 points in the first half with two 3-pointers to help the Mavs close the game.
The NMSU Aggies led by as many as 17 points, but the Mavericks continued to shoot the ball and headed into the locker room down 39-25 at the half.
Kiara Parker grabbed a steal and an easy layup to put the Mavs within 10 points. The Mavs energy got a push and UTA with an 8-0 to tie the game at 45.
Kelsey Willson drove to the basket for the Mavericks first lead since the opening minutes of the ball game (50-48).
Both teams continued to push as the score went both ways in the second half. Parker picked up her fifth foul of the game leaving the court for the final time with the Aggies up two.
The Mavericks would end the season 7-22 overall and 4-14 in league play.
New Mexico State's Stefani Gilbreath led both teams with 25 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds for the Aggies.
The women travel to Las Vegas, Nevada for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament as the face New Mexico State Aggies Tuesday, March 12 at 4:30 CST.
