No. 5 UT Arlington (17-12, 11-9) vs. No. 4 Texas State (16-13, 11-9)
Wednesday | 2:00 p.m. CT | Lakefront Arena
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Game Notes

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

NEW ORLEANS - UT Arlington's motto for the last two seasons has been "Change 4 Championships." With a trip to the Sun Belt Conference Championship as the No. 5 seed that change is here.

In just two years under UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich, the Lady Mavericks have gone from a four-win season in 2013-14 to a 17-win campaign this season, producing the largest turnaround in program history.

The No. 5 seed Lady Mavs (17-12, 11-9) have earned their first trip to the tournament in two years in the conference and face a familiar foe in the opening round in No. 4 Texas State (16-13, 11-9). Tip is 2p.m Wednesday at Lakefront Arena.

"It is really humbling," Gerlich said of the success. "It is kind of surreal to me right now. It is a testament to these kids and them buying in to what we are selling. Over the last eight to nine to 10 games, you have seen their maturity and commitment level of just knowing that what we are doing is working. They are just buying in and putting it together."

UTA has found the right time to click. The Lady Mavs closed the season by winning eight of their final 11 games, including a stretch in which they played six of the last nine games on the road.

The trip to the postseason is just the second for four-year player Chaun Williams. The senior reached the Western Athletic Conference tournament in 2013. UTA had won just 16 games entering this season in Williams' career and eclipsed that mark in the final road trip.

"I am just enjoying these girls right now," Williams said. "We just have to remember what it is like to actually win. We have to have fun and anything can happen. I have enjoyed the ride coming from the past three seasons."

Williams has been the team's sixth man this season. She's second on the team in scoring at 9.0 points per game despite making just two starts.

The team has relied on young talent, including star freshman Rebekah Van Dijk, to climb the conference standings. UTA was picked 10th in the preseason poll.

"When you have this many kids, it takes a season for them to gel," Gerlich said. "It takes times to figure each other out and that is why we are getting more transition buckets. They are putting themselves in position to be successful."

Van Dijk finished the regular season as just one of two players in the conference to average a double-double. The freshman from Nazareth, Texas scored 13.1 points per game and averaged 10.3 rebounds. Her 298 rebounds this season rank seventh in UTA single-season history.

With a win on Wednesday, UTA will meet the winner of No. 1 UALR and No. 8 Georgia State on Friday.

Notes: UTA is 17-20 all-time in conference tournaments and are 11-11 in the first round. ... Freshman G Cierra Johnson is fourth in UTA single-season history for steals. Johnson has 76 steals and is eight away from reaching fourth. ... Texas State has defeated the Lady Mavs in the last four meetings and is 4-1 in the postseason against UTA, with the last meeting in 2003 during the Southland Conference Tournament.