SAN FRANCISCO – It was a breakout day for a trio of freshmen as the group led UT Arlington to a 80-73 win over San Francisco on Sunday at the War Memorial Gym at Sobrato Center, closing out a two-game stay in California.
 
The Lady Mavericks used a big run to close the first half, and clamped down on defense to start the second to build up a big lead that reached as much as 22. UTA, bouncing back from Friday's setback at Fresno State, moved to 3-2 overall, while San Francisco went to 2-3. UTA continues its five-game road trip when it travels to Incarnate Word next Sunday.
 
Trailing by 20 in the final 10 minutes, San Francisco made a game of it late as their hot shooting saw five consecutive field goals fall, as well as a run of four consecutive free throws to put the pressure on. However, UTA would answer the run and held on to the win.
 
Starting three freshmen for the first time this season, it big day for all three as they were all in double figures to lead scoring. Claire Chastain was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field with a team-high 18 points, while Terryn Milton added 13 and Katie Ferrell scored 11. Ferrell ended the day with nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.  
 
Junior Brooke Alexander, catching fire in the second half, poured in 11 points as she was 4-of-7, knocking down a key 3-pointer that answered a brief USF run.
 
The Lady Mavs shot a cool 50.0 percent from the field, their second time this season above 50 percent from the field. UTA turned USF over 18 times, converting it into 23 points down the floor. Senior Cierra Johnson grabbed three steals, all coming in a minute span of the third quarter. Johnson has 263 in her career, needing just 22 more to tie for the all-time mark with Allison Gray (1980-84). Johnson also closed in on 1,000 points, adding nine to bring her total to 969.
 
UTA earned its second consecutive win over San Francisco with the teams meeting on the west coast for the first time since 1988. UTA improved in the all-time series to 3-1, winning last season on the home court in a 56-54 win – also holding off a fourth-quarter rally.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was the Milton show to start the opening 10 minutes as she joined with a trio of freshmen in the starting lineup. Milton helped guide the offense with nine points in the opening 10 minutes, connecting on three of her five shots in the frame. Each team matched each other's early blows before Milton's trey sparked a UTA run to close the opening quarter up by six.
 
After a quick start to the second, sloppy play on both sides slowed scoring with turnovers being thrown each way. However, it was UTA that settled in to spark a 6-0 run over the course of just 60 seconds as Milton went over double figures with her fourth bucket of the day. Ferrell responded to a pair of free throws at the other end with UTA's fourth three of the day and sparked a 13-3 run.
 
Out of the break, it was the UTA defense that shined behind the efforts of Johnson. The senior grabbed three steals in the span of the first 1:19 of the second half, leading to a quick run and an 18-point lead.
 
The shots would cool off for a brief spurt midway through the third, but it was Brooke Alexander who calmed the offense with back-to-back jumpers falling for the junior. UTA used the answer to hold a 20-point edge going to the final 10 minutes.
 
Alexander continued to remain hot from the field as she'd connect on three of four jumpers in the fourth, including a 3-pointer out of a timeout that pushed the lead back to 20 points and answer USF's attempt to get things under double digits. The turnover bug struck once again with the Dons attempting another rally. USF turned UTA over four times in the span of two minutes to get back within 14.
 
The deficit was brought into single digits with four consecutive free throws from the Dons. Chastain answered with a split on the other side, but the quick-paced USF attack put in an easy lay in to put the UTA lead down to just seven with 42 seconds left as the Dons made five field goals in a row. USF would turn UTA over, but could not get the lay in as the Lady Mavs held on.
 
NOTABLE
UTA used its third different starting lineup as Claire Chastain earned her first start in a Lady Maverick uniform. She was joined by freshmen Terryn Milton and Katie Ferrell… UTA ended its two-game stay with a 1-1 record in California… The 50.0 percent shooting was only behind a 59.0 effort in the season opener against Jackson State… The five 3-pointers were a season low…