UT Arlington (3-5) at Houston Baptist (4-4)
Saturday, Dec. 21 | 1 p.m. | Houston (Sharp Gym)

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By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

ARLINGTON, Texas - With UT Arlington's Sun Belt opener just two weeks away, the Lady Mavericks hit the road for their final two nonconference games.

UTA (3-5) plays two games in three days during its Texas two-step to the south. The trek begins against Houston Baptist on Saturday at 1 p.m. before wrapping up the nonconference slate against UTSA on Monday at 7 p.m. The Lady Mavs are seeking to end a two-game skid after falling to Kansas State and WKU in their last two times on the court.

"I am excited about this road trip and the challenges ahead and see how the kids respond to the adversity that we have been going through," UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich said. "I feel like there has been some really bright spots, some kids have stepped up and played well. There have been some moments where we have given the game away and have not been characteristic of ourselves. I am expecting to get back on track and to really play well together."

Through eight games, UTA has had five different players lead the team in scoring. Two of those scoring efforts have come from senior Amara Wainwright who is coming off a game in which she scored a career-high 24 points.

Wainwright knocked down five 3-pointers in UTA's game against WKU and is averaging a team-best 8.9 points per game. For the season, she is averaging 51.6 percent from beyond the arch, a Sun Belt best and good for sixth in NCAA Division I.

"I challenged Amara at the beginning of the season about being an offensive threat," Gerlich said. "We had to have a scorer. I challenged her in a couple of ways and she has responded terrifically. She has really stepped up and nobody deserves it like Amara because of her work ethic. She spent time in the gym in the summer and spring and I love seeing the confidence she has when she shoots the ball."

The Lady Mavericks face familiar opponents in Houston Baptist and UTSA. The Lady Mavs and Huskies have faced one another six times in the last seven years and UTA holds a 5-1 all-time record against HBU. UTA is 30-28 all-time against UTSA and have continued a rivalry that has survived through conference realignment.

The Lady Mavs and Roadrunners met 56 times as conference foes in the Southland Conference and a season in the WAC before UTA joined the Sun Belt and UTSA went to C-USA. The Roadrunners have won the last four meetings, including a 63-56 win at College Park Center in 2014.

"Playing on the road is going to be tough," Gerlich said. "Both places will be tough with the environment and their gyms, we have to be road warriors and we have to be ready. Houston Baptist is one of those teams that can get streaky and hot so we have to make sure we keep them uncomfortable early. One of the things we have struggled with is our consistency. I am really looking for consistency against them.

"Traveling to UTSA is going to be tough. They are a very talented team and super athletic. They have some weapons that we will have to counter."

Following the trip, UTA will enjoy a brief break for Christmas before conference play begins on Dec. 30 against Georgia State at College Park Center.