Season Tickets | 2015-16 Schedule

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

ARLINGTON, Texas - Entering the 2014-15 season, UT Arlington had questions across the floor on where the points would come from. One of the many answers came from the play of the Lady Mavericks' inside players and their effectiveness to score.

Scoring in double digits in the first eight games of the season, Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Rebekah VanDijk gave the Lady Mavs an immediate identity that they'd be a force to be reckoned with. VanDijk led NCAA Division I freshmen with 15 double-doubles and was just one of two in the Sun Belt to average a double-double.

This season, VanDijk knows that the team isn't going to be able to surprise anyone after being picked second in the SBC Preseason Poll. Her goal is to achieve even more.

"I want to show them that we are ready, that we are ready to face harder teams," VanDijk said. "I want to play harder teams to get better and it's a challenge to show what we are made of."

UTA features a strong contingent of players that can be effective on the inside. Freshman Mackenzie Hailey joins seniors Toma Zaleckaite, Morgan Hunt and Morgan Holly as options down low.

UT Arlington associate head coach Kristin Cole is excited to see what the group has to offer this season and is ready to face the challenge that the schedule provides. Cole has put the focus on doing the little things correctly.

"One of the things that sets our program a part is we are founded on discipline," Cole said. "We have the discipline and do the same things we are supposed to do over and over again, and because of that discipline we wear people down. Our post players have raised their game and we are better than we were last year."

For VanDijk and Zaleckaite, some of their best games came from the ability for both to be knocking down shots. Zaleckaite put up double-digit points in back-to-back games on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. On the other side, VanDijk posted scores of 19 and 14, completing double-doubles in both games.

The duo is wanting to do much of the same this season, knowing that when one has success that it is going to help others get open.

"When the four knocks down the open free-throw jumper it opens the inside," VanDijk said. "It takes away the double team from the inside. When she's knocking down shots then I have an easier chance to get open down at the block."

Zaleckaite, a former transfer from Weatherford College, has been working on improving the game to add to the experience that she learned from her first season at the Division I level.

"We know what its like," Zaleckaite said. "We are more ready and know what to work on. We know what its like to play Little Rock and how physical they are. That pushes us and we want to work harder and be stronger. They beat us bad last year and we don't want the same thing to happen this year."

The depth at the position has been a driving force for UTA's 13-win increase last season, the largest in the nation. Cole attributed that to the skill level of those around VanDijk and Zaleckaite.

"Holly, especially in spring and summer, did a good job in working on being able to score in the block on taller players," Cole said. "She needs to continue to do that, but she added that to her game.

"Hunt's confidence is starting to show. She has done a lot for us at the high post and being able to get that offensive rebound."

Adding to the group of four returners, a new component will be the play of Hailey, a newcomer from Burleson High School.

"The nice thing for Mac is that she comes in as the only new post player and she can learn from some really good post players," Cole said. "She has the ability to shoot the ball better than any of our post players and can shoot from the three. She can make a person guard her, which allows more of an opening for our five players. I am looking forward to her growth in the program."

The Lady Mavericks open the season with their biggest challenge to date as they travel to Waco to take on Baylor in the 2015 Preseason WNIT first round. However, Cole believes that the task is not going to get any easier down the road for the highly-regarded Lady Mavs.

"We have to come out ready every night. A target is going to be on our back," Cole said. "People didn't expect it last year and now they expect it. We have to be ready every single game. We can't days, games or plays off now."