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By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

ARLINGTON, Texas - A Toma Zaleckaite buzzer-beater lifted UT Arlington to a 56-54 win over Jacksonville on Friday at College Park Center in Preseason WNIT action.

The Lady Mavericks (1-1) used the new NCAA rules to their advantage in the thriller, advancing the ball to set the stage for the win. LaShanda Green threw a perfect lob into the paint, finding the fingertips of Zaleckaite with 0.5 on the clock to bounce it off the backboard for the clincher.

The victory sends UTA into the winner's bracket of the four-team consolation pod to take on McNeese State at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday. Jacksonville (0-2) faces Dartmouth at 5 p.m.

Jacksonville took a 25-19 lead into the break after turning the Lady Mavs over 16 times. The Dolphins built up an early double-digit lead in the third quarter before UTA stormed back.

UTA outscored JU 20-13 in the third to take a brief lead, sending the teams into a back-and-fourth final 10 minutes.

With under a minute, UTA held a five-point advantage, but a 3-pointer bounced off the glass to bring the game within two. The Dolphins picked up another turnover and were sent to the line to tie the game. Making both shots, the game appeared to be destined for overtime before Zaleckaite sunk the final bucket.

Turning point:

Down double digits in the third quarter, Kamy Cole knocked down her first 3-pointer of her UTA career and first in two years after sitting out due to transfer. Cole would knock down another and the Lady Mavericks used the momentum to take the lead going into the fourth quarter.

Key Stats:

Morgan Holly was the lone Lady Mav to reach double-digit scoring, producing a 10-point effort. Cierra Johnson returned to her normal form with three steals on the night, turning in a nine-point game to go with five rebounds.

Notable:

UTA improved to 30-12 in home openers and have won its last two. The Lady Mavs are facing McNeese State for the first time since UTA departed the Southland in 2012. UTA holds a 35-21 advantage over McNeese State and are 231-210 against the SLC.

Up next:

The Lady Mavericks continue action in the Preseason WNIT as they advance to the finals of their consolation bracket four-team pod. UTA hosts McNeese State on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are available at www.UTATickets.com

Quotable:

UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich's statement on the game:
"Tonight I am a fan of the new rule that we can advance the ball to half court. I am really proud of this group and that was a story of two different team and two different halves. We changed that at half time and these kids did a nice job of getting to work."

Gerlich's thoughts on the final play:
"They believed they could win with .5 on the clock.

"Initially I put Rebekah VanDijk in of course because she is 6-5, but we decided to use her as a decoy. Toma is a great athlete and then I thought Holly just made a tip in, so I was second guessing myself. I am so proud of Toma to jump up and be athletic enough to make that. The pass was perfect from LaShanda. They just executed it well."

Gerlich on the team's play in the second half compared to the first:
"We pushed the ball. We have to play more up-tempo. I don't know why we are trying to walk the ball up the floor. I think we get down a bit when we get down and we are much better when we are up-tempo. We are post oriented, but we have to move the defense and we have to do it quicker. I felt like they did a better job running the floor and playing at a quick pace. "

Zaleckaite on producing the game-winning shot:"It feels amazing. I can't believe it honestly. I went blank, I was just running and I saw it coming and I tipped it and went blank. I was waiting and waiting and it went in. It just happened so quickly."