ATLANTA, Ga. – The UTA women's basketball team erased an 11-point Georgia State second half lead and eventually tied the game with six second remaining in regulation, but thanks to a 15-foot jumper from Allison Johnson, the Lady Mavs dropped their 2018-19 Sun Belt Conference opener, 50-48, on Thursday night at GSU Sports Arena.

With the loss, UTA falls to 8-4 overall (0-1 SBC), while GSU moves to 7-5 on the season and 1-0 in SBC play. The loss also drops the Lady Mavs to 2-4 in SBC openers since joining the league. The last Sun Belt Conference opener that UTA was victorious in was during the 2016-17 season (74-63 over Appalachian State in Arlington).

Brooke Alexander was the lone Lady Maverick to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points and a team-high five assists. Alexander shot 5-for-11 from the field and knocked down 3-of-8 attempts from behind the arc. Lauren Billie added nine points, two boards and a pair of assists, while Cierra Johnson chipped in with six points and four rebounds. Misty Dossey came off the bench to play 10 minutes and finished with six points (3-of-3 shooting), two boards and a pair of blocks.

Trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half, UT Arlington locked in defensively and clawed their way back into the game, cutting the Panther lead to one (47-46) on a triple by Alexander with two minutes left. GSU answered, as Madison Ervin split a pair at the free-throw line to put Georgia State back up by two (48-46).

After a timeout, C. Johnson's smooth lefty layup tied the contest at 48 with six seconds remaining in regulation. Allison Johnson banked in what turned out to be the game-winning jumper to put GSU ahead 50-48 with just 1.7 seconds left. The Lady Mavs had one more chance to win or send the game to overtime, but Claire Chastain's layup was closely contested and rimmed out to lock up the win for the Panthers.

The Lady Mavs will now head to Statesboro, Ga. to take on Georgia Southern (5-7, 0-1 SBC) on Saturday Jan. 5. The game will air on ESPN+ and is set to tip-off at 2 p.m. ET.

For the latest news on UTA Women's Basketball, log on to UTAMavs.com or stay connected to the Lady Mavs on social media. Follow the Lady Mavericks on Twitter @LadyMavHoops, on Instagram @UTALadyMavs and on Facebook at Facebook.com/LadyMavHoops.

FINAL
UTA 48, Georgia State 50 | Box Score
GSU Sports Arena | Atlanta, Ga.

UTA STAT LEADERS VS. GEORGIA STATE
Points: Brooke Alexander - 13
Rebounds: Katie Ferrell - 6
Assists: Brooke Alexander - 5
Steals: Laurynn McGowen - 2
Blocks: Misty Dossey – 2