ARLINGTON – The UT Arlington women's basketball team returns to the College Park Center on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. as they welcome in former Southland Conference foe Sam Houston for a Homecoming duel.
3-POINTERS
- For the first time since 2012, two former Southland foes in UT Arlington and Sam Houston will meet inside the College Park Center. UTA holds a 41-16 advantage over Sam Houston all-time, but the Bearkats have won four in a row including a 61-45 win in their last meeting on Feb. 8, 2012, Sam Houston's one and only visit to the College Park Center.
- The Lady Mavs saw their five-game season-opener streak snapped on Thursday night in a loss to #7/8 Baylor. The loss to the Bears also snapped a seven-game home opener streak.
- Thursday night's attendance of 2,216 was the largest crowd for a standalone women's game in the College Park Center's 10-year history. UTA is currently 35th in the country in attendance.
BAYLOR TAKEAWAYS
- The Lady Mavs only made one 3-pointer on the night, going 1 of 17 (6%) from deep, their lowest output since going 1 of 9 against Little Rock on Jan. 4, 2020, a game UTA won 65-58.
- In her first outing as a Lady Mav, Starr Jacobs was terrific in the first half, shooting 6 of 9 from the field. She was on pace to move into the Top 10 of made field goals in a game as 12 would've put her into the record books, but Jacobs missed most of the second half. She finished with 14 points in the game.
- Terryn Milton match a career-high in rebounds on Thursday with eight.
- Two freshmen scored their first collegiate points as Jordyn Turner finished with four while Olympia Chaney added two. Turner's first point came on a free throw with 4:37 to play in the fourth while Chaney checked in and immediately scored on a jumper with 8:18 to play in the fourth.
- The Lady Mavs outrebounded Baylor 23-18 in the first half, including seven offensive boards, but Baylor held a 24-14 advantage in the second half despite seven more offensive boards for UTA.
- The 81 points allowed are the most points UTA has given up in the Shereka Wright era. The last time UTA allowed over 80 points in a game was on Feb. 8, 2020, in an 80-62 loss to Coastal Carolina.
SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON
- Sam Houston rolled to a season-opening win on Thursday night as they defeated Wiley College, 86-62, at home.
- Faith Cook comes off a career-high 30 points in the win over Wiley.
- Cook was one of four Bearkats in double figures in the win as Courtney Cleveland scored 16 while Kaylee Jefferson and Damaya Telemaque each scored 11 points.
- Sam Houston forced 33 turnovers on the night and turned it into 32 points.
- Sam Houston finished 15-8 a season ago and played in the championship game of the Southland Conference. Since that time, the Bearkats have moved to the Western Athletic Conference and were selected to finish fifth in the media poll and sixth in the coaches poll.
- Cook was named the SLC Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and averaged 13.2 points and led the Southland with 4.3 assists and 36.5 minutes per game a year ago. She reached double figures in scoring in 17 of 23 games, and averaged 16.0 points per game in the Kats' run to the Southland Tournament title game. She earned Preseason Second Team All-WAC.
HOME SWEET HOME
The UTA women have called the College Park Center home since February 1, 2012 when they defeated UTSA in their first contest in their new home arena, 51-40. Since then, the Lady Mavs have complied a home record of 80-51 including five seasons with 10 or more wins.
Since the 2016-17 season, the Lady Mavs have been remarkable at home as they have put together an impressive 56-13 record including a 37-6 reocrd in Sun Belt play as they have not lost more than two games inside their home arena.
Lady Mavs Home Record
2020-21: 8-1
2019-20: 12-4
2018-19: 12-3
2017-18: 13-2
2016-17: 11-3
2015-16: 7-8
2014-15: 10-5
2013-14: 3-11
2012-13: 3-10
2011-12: 1-4
Total: 80-51
CAPTAINS NAMED
Shereka Wright announced her four captains for the 2021-22 season in Claire Chastain, Terryn Milton, Shyia Smith, and Katie Ferrell.
AMONG THE ELITE
UTA has been one of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference year in and year out since joining the league in 2013-14. The Lady Mavs have been .500 or better every year except their very first season and have currently won 10 or more conference games in seven straight seasons, a conference-leading mark they hold with Troy.
1. Little Rock: 113
2. Troy: 103
3. UTA: 90
4. Arkansas State: 82
5. Louisiana: 79
6. Texas State: 77
7. South Alabama: 62
8. Georgia State: 58
9. App State: 55
10. Coastal Carolina: 41
11. Georgia Southern: 31
ULM: 31
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
UT Arlington built up a tough non-conference schedule in 2020-21 as 10 team docket includes three teams who made the NCAA Tournament last season, two teams who competed in the WNIT, and eight total teams who had a winning record in 2020-21.
All opponents are NCAA Division I teams, including two teams that won their conference championship and the WNIT Champion from a season ago. Two NCAA Tournament participants and both WNIT participants will visit the College Park Center.
FOLLOW ALONG
For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more engaging and personal content, be sure to follow the women's basketball program on Twitter (@UTAMavsWBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsWBB) and Facebook (/UTAMavsWBB).
