Oct. 29, 2015
2015-16 Schedule | Quick Facts | Season Tickets
By Cassie Logan | @c4ssielogan
ARLINGTON, Texas - When fans return to College Park Center to see UT Arlington women's basketball in action, they will notice a few changes in how the game is played. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a series of revisions in June that take effect for the 2015-16 season.
The changes include playing with four 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves. The NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee made the push to improve the flow of the game.
UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich doesn't necessarily believe the change will affect the Lady Mavs because the quarters still total 20 minutes, but it will break up the game, a method of basketball she already teaches her players.
"We always try to break the game up anyway and we used to do it according to media timeouts, so we would try to win every four minutes," Gerlich said. "Now it'll be every five minutes and we just have to compartmentalize the game as much as possible."
Another change that Gerlich sees as being most effective is teams will now receive two bonus shots on the opposing team's fifth foul in each quarter. Previously, teams earned a one-and one on the seventh foul, and shot two free throws after the 10th.
Team fouls reset to zero at the start of all four quarters, but if a team reaches the bonus in the fourth quarter, it would remain during any overtime periods.
"That part is going to be good that it resets each quarter, especially for us because we like to press, so if we happen to get into foul trouble in the first quarter and get somebody in the bonus, it's not going to affect us the entire half," Gerlich said.
The Lady Mavs will be able to stay aggressive, but without the one-and-one bonus, players have less pressure to make those free throws. It'll also motivate UTA to play a sharper defensive game to keep opponents off the free throw line.
More modifications include advancing the ball to the frontcourt after a timeout following a shot in the last minute of the game and overtimes, and after protecting a rebound or change of possession.
The 10-second backcourt count during a throw-in rule implemented during the 2013-14 season will also be updated. A team won't receive the count if the throw-in resulted from a deflected ball out of bounds by the defense, a possession arrow favors the offensive team or a technical foul is called on the offensive team while the ball is in its backcourt.
As for post defenses, the panel implemented a rule that permits defenders to hold a forearm or open hand with a bent elbow on an offensive post player when their back is to the basket.
In an effort to improve fan experience at games, the NCAA is now allowing bands and amplified music to play during dead-ball situations rather than just timeouts and halftime.
Gerlich believes the improvements to collegiate women's basketball are important and shed more attention on UT Arlington and College Park Center considering the campus' high interest in the sport.
"It's going to be awesome for the fans and fun for them to be able to have a little bit more musical entertainment throughout the game and liven things up," Gerlich said. "The sound effects will probably be crazy, so I think that's going to be exciting."
The Lady Mavericks open their season on Nov. 13 versus Baylor in the Preseason WNIT. UTA opens its home schedule on Nov. 24 vs. Seton Hall at 7 p.m.
Single game, season tickets or All Sport Passes are available at UTATickets.com or by contacting the College Park Center Box Office at (817) 272-9595.
