UT Arlington (0-0) vs. No. 5 Baylor (0-0)
Nov. 13 | Ferrell Center | Waco, Texas

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WNIT Central | WNIT Tournament Notes

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The vision for UT Arlington women's basketball is winning championships. The third season of UTA coach Krista Gerlich's tenure begins Friday night against a program that has won championships at the highest level.

The Lady Mavericks travel to No. 5 Baylor, a two-time national champion, in the first round of the 2015 Preseason WNIT and season opener. Tip off is 6 p.m., with television coverage on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.

"We are thrilled to get started," Gerlich said. "We are excited about the season. It seems like it has been awhile. We have really been working hard on things we need to improve on, but at the same time it feels like yesterday. We are excited to get back into rhythm and really getting after it. I know the girls are excited about playing somebody different."

UTA was selected second in the Sun Belt preseason poll a season after finishing tied for fourth in the conference. The Lady Mavs return all five regular starters from last season, including Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Rebekah VanDijk -- selected to the preseason first team -- as well as third-team selections LaShanda Green and Cierra Johnson.

The success earned the Lady Mavs the honor of playing in the Preseason WNIT and a date with the 2011 NCAA champion. UTA knows what it's up against, and the task at hand isn't an easy one.

"Baylor is Baylor," Gerlich said. "They are where we want to be. They are the type of program that actually may have been where we are before Kim Mulkey got the job, and she has done such a great job with them. It is fun for our kids to see the success they can have.

"It is going to be a great environment for us to be able to play with them and it is going to be a great challenge, no doubt. Our kids are focused on doing the little things so that we can compete with them, but we are really looking forward to it."

Baylor fell in the Elite Eight to end its 2014-15 season at 33-4. The Bears return three starters to its impressive lineup and were the Big 12's preseason picks to repeat as conference champions.

UTA has increased its depth in anticipation of trying to take the next step. The focus last season was on defense. The response was the eighth-best scoring defense in the nation last year. UTA welcomed five well-rounded newcomers, and Gerlich is happy with how they have meshed with the team.

"That is one of the things that our returners have done a good job on," Gerlich said. "They are developing that chemistry on and off the court. They have really done a good job in getting to know one another and continuing to play with one another."

The UTA-BU winner will face the winner of Southern Miss-Alabama State, set for Friday at 11 a.m. Round 2 is either Nov. 15 or 16. The losers move into a four-team consolation bracket with hosts to be announced. The consolation rounds take place Nov. 20 and 21.

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.