Final Stats

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

BOONE, N.C. - UT Arlington picked up its second consecutive win by more than 30 points in routing Appalachian State 76-45 on Thursday in Sun Belt play.

The Lady Mavericks (7-6, 2-1 SBC) earned their third road win in a row, starting a three-game road trip, and held an opponent under 50 points for the fourth time in five games. Sophomore Rebekah VanDijk matched her season-high and came within just two points of her career mark, leading with a game-high 18 points.

Three other UTA players joined VanDijk with double-digit totals. Cierra Johnson and Morgan Hunt each had 14 points - Hunt with a career high, while Breck Clark also had her best effort with 12 points. UTA shot 53.7 percent from the field, its third time with at least 50 percent shooting this season.

With VanDijk's efficiency in the paint, UTA held a 36-12 advantage in points inside. VanDijk finished with a game-best 8-of-12 shooting, her best shooting percentage of the season.

App State opened the contest on a 6-1 run before UTA began to enforce its authority. The Lady Mavs trimmed the deficit to just two points heading into the media timeout and took the lead on a 5-0 run. Clark knocked down UTA's first 3-pointer of the contest late in the opening quarter to give UTA a 14-9 advantage.

The Lady Mavs defense clamped down in the second to extend their lead to double digits. UTA held the Mountaineers to just 3-of-11 shooting in the quarter, while the Lady Mavs knocked down shots at a 50 percent clip. VanDijk put in six points in the second and headed into the break with 12 points on 6-9 shooting.

The 18 points for App State tied the season low for points in the opening half.

The defensive effort continued into the second half as the Mountaineers failed to make a field goal for the first three minutes of the quarter, letting UTA open up a 9-1 run out of the break. The Lady Mavs followed up a big third with an even better fourth, knocking down 81.8 percent of their shots (9-11).

Turning point
The Lady Mavs put together two defensive quarters to open the contest as UTA held opponents to less than 10 points for five of the last six quarters played. Breck Clark helped along the effort with two of her three 3-pointers coming in the first half and the Lady Mavs went into the break up by more than 10 points for their third consecutive game.

Key Stats
UTA had three players have at least five assists. Amara Wainwright led with a career-high seven. Cierra Johnson and LaShanda Green each had five. … Johnson came within one of her high for steals in a game with six to match a season high. …

Notable
UTA improved to 3-0 all-time against Appalachian State and 2-0 on the road. … UTA coach Krista Gerlich achieved win 196 to come within four of the 200-milestone. … UTA is 5-0 when VanDijk scores at least 10 points.

Up next
The Lady Mavericks continue their three-game trip as it heads to Alabama for a pair of games. UTA plays Troy on Thursday night before meeting South Alabama in Mobile on Saturday. UTA was 3-1 against the pair last season.

Quotable
UTA coach Krista Gerlich's on the game:
"The girls did a nice job. We didn't come out very well in the first quarter and didn't attack the way we needed to. We didn't have the right energy but I thought they did a nice job in changing that. In the past we hadn't been able to change the flatness, I am proud of their entire team effort.

Gerlich on the play of the defense:
"Our defense did a nice job. We could have held them a little bit better in the fourth quarter but we got a little bit foul happy. I really like the intensity of our kids right now, the focus to game plan and really taking pride in their defense."

Cierra Johnson on the team's intensity:
"It was great. When we are having fun we play better. We were in a funk but coach snapped us out of it."

Johnson on the play of VanDijk:
"When she is scoring, we win by a lot and when she isn't it is close. She is 6-foot-5 and we really depend on her. Its not fair but we really do.

Johnson on the effectiveness of Hunt:

"It was great because for Morgan, we have been waiting for that to come out of her because we know she has it in her but that should really give her confidence a boost to know she can do that from now on."