Dec. 2, 2014

Final Stats

Photo Gallery

By Michael Eldridge | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas - In-state rival UTSA ended UT Arlington's home unbeaten streak on Tuesday night at College Park Center as the Roadrunners ran away with a 63-55 win.

The Lady Mavericks went to 3-2 on the season, while the Roadrunners improved to the same record and picked up their fourth consecutive win over UTA.

"I am disappointed with this loss and it is one that we could have won but we have to respond," UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich said. "Our goal is to get better every day and we have a lot to work on. That is what we will do tomorrow and see if we can correct some of these things."

UTA will get the opportunity for a quick bounce back on Thursday when the Lady Mavs travel to face Kansas State.

Freshman Rebekah Van Dijk earned her fourth consecutive double-double after scoring a team-high 14 points and picking up 12 rebounds. Van Dijk has scored in double digits in all five games thus far. Senior Tahlia Pope and Chaun Williams each added nine points, but would foul out late in the second half.

The Lady Mavs struggled on offense despite being within striking distance of the Road Runners. UTA shot just 40 percent from the field, were 2-of-12 from beyond the arc and had trouble at the free-throw line, knocking down only 11 of 23 attempts.

"The free-throw line is a huge red flag for us," Gerlich said. "We are better shooters than that and we do all kinds of free-throw shooting drills in practice but in game time they have to show up and make shots."

The Lady Mavericks' defense was able to hold the Roadrunners scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of the game, however, UTA was unable to capitalize and UTSA raced out to a 19-9 lead with under 10 minutes in the opening half. Ashley Spaletta would score 10 of the Roadrunners' first 19 points.

UTA climbed back into the contest and would take the lead following a turnover forced by Pope and a Williams bucket. Williams helped build the lead to as much as five on a 3-pointer, but the Roadrunners rallied to trail just 31-30 at the break.

The teams exchanged the lead back-and-forth through the early stages of the second before UTSA made a climbed into the lead. The Roadrunners went on a 10-0 run and built a 46-36 advantage.

The Lady Mavs were able to cut the game to as close to seven points, however, foul trouble and free throws would make a comeback tough. UTA would go 5-of-13 at the free-throw line in the second half and were less than 50 percent overall. UTSA outscored the Lady Mavs 33-24 in the second half.