By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

ARLINGTON, Texas - Adversity has been an unfortunate trait that UT Arlington women's basketball has become experienced with. With a wave of new faces to the Lady Maverick roster, UTA is facing it head on.

UTA graduated five from the 2015-16 squad, including its starting point guard, and have been hit with injuries during the lead-up to the season opener against UTSA on Nov. 13. However, it has been freshman point guard Ericka Mattingly that has stepped up to keep the ball rolling forward.

"I have been very pleased with her knowledge of the game and ability to adapt to it so quickly," UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich said. "She is just like a sponge and soaks it all in and gives us great effort and energy. She is super positive and has a great attitude. She doesn't get rattled, which makes her a great point guard. So even in an unknown situation she is still very confident and composed."

Mattingly has pointed to similarities between her high school coach at Wichita South High School and Gerlich as to why the transition has been seemingly flawless between programs. At Wichita South, Mattingly helped lead the Titans to a 96-4 record over four seasons and four consecutive Kansas Class 6A championships on the way to an All-State selection.

Picking up the offense and the different speed of the game hasn't been a feat that Mattingly has achieved alone. She's leaned on the experience of the upperclassmen to guide her.

"The seniors and returning players have helped me a lot," Mattingly said. "Te'o helps me a lot and is very kind when she helps and Cierra (Johnson) has done a great job in helping me out too. When I feel like I need to know more information than what coach tells me, the whole team can help me out."

A selection to the Sun Belt All-Conference third team in 2015-16, junior guard Cierra Johnson praised the work ethic of all the newcomers and said that the key to this year's improvement has come from the drive to be competitive and get better every day.

"They fit in because they work hard," Johnson said. "(Mattingly) is definitely paying attention to details. She knows all of the spots on where people need to be and she is just very aggressive."

With just a few weeks until UTA takes the court, Mattingly doesn't appear to be a freshman. The team around her is already noticing her poise and leadership, but she admits that there is still a lot to work on.

"I have put a lot of pressure on myself because it's new and I am a freshman," Mattingly said. "I just need to keep learning and building. We will be fine because we have a lot of great players and I think this season is going to be great."