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By Cassie Logan | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- UTA women's basketball accomplished a feat Saturday afternoon at College Park Center that the Mavericks haven't been able to reach since 1987. UTA defeated Arkansas State 69-58 in historic fashion, earning its first win over the program in 10 tries.

The Lady Mavericks clipped their two-game skid, the longest in Sun Belt play, to improve to 16-6 and 9-3 in league competition. Arkansas State (5-19, 3-9) dropped its first conference matchup to UTA for the first time since UTA joined the Sun Belt in 2013-14. With the win, head coach Krista Gerlich passed Cindy Salser (1976-79) on UTA's win rankings.

Rebekah VanDijk had a milestone day beginning with a field goal in the second quarter, moving into ninth all-time on UTA's career list. Minutes later, she became 22nd in SBC history in career blocks with her third of the game. The junior also cemented her name in UTA's career rebounds list in fifth. She led all scoring with 21 points, adding eight boards and a steal.

Crystal Allen was hot from long range on 3-of-5 shooting to turn in 13 points, a pair of steals and four rebounds. Aysia Evans also registered a career-high 13 points, and Cierra Johnson inked five assists and nine rebounds.

UTA opened the day on a 6-2 run, but Arkansas State would even the score with a pair of jumpers before a media timeout at the 4:54 mark. The Red Wolves were then fouled and gained their first lead on two good free throws. An Allen 3 brought the Lady Mavs within two before frees from Ericka Mattlingly tied it back at 11. Arkansas State shot 54 percent late to manufacture a 22-13 lead at the end of the first.

VanDijk dropped in a pair of layups and Evans followed with one of her own to open the second quarter and close the deficit to five points. Tension and momentum began to build as the clock ran down. Back-to-back layups for Christina Devers tied the ballgame at 29 and another Allen 3-pointer reignited UTA's lead 32-30. Arkansas State closed out the scoring in the first half with a pair of buckets to tie it 34 all.

With the Red Wolves maintaining a small lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter, Allyson Te'o's first points of the game brought UTA within one and that trend would continue to the beginning of the final frame. An opening bucket from VanDijk fueled a Lady Maverick takeover with 9:36 to play and Allen's third trey of the day pushed the advantage to three. Efficient shooting and aggressive defense kept the wheels turning for UTA as it stretched a lead to 10 more than halfway through the quarter.

KEY STATS
UTA bested Arkansas State in every shooting category, registering a field percentage of 41 to the Red Wolves' 33. UTA also won on the defensive side of the ball, forcing 20 turnovers converted to 15 points.

UPCOMING GAME
The Lady Mavericks look to open a new win streak with a trip to the Georgias. UTA faces Georgia Southern 6 p.m.Thursday in Statesboro, before turning to Georgia State at 11 p.m. Saturday.

The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy. New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your school's ticket office. For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship - Women's Championship - and be sure to follow the #FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.