JONESBORO, Ark. – The UTA women's basketball team is set for the final regular season Sun Belt Conference series at Arkansas State this weekend. The Lady Mavs and Red Wolves open the series on Friday night (Feb. 26) at First National Bank Arena at 6:00 p.m., followed by a 4:00 p.m. contest on Feb. 27.

Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Brad Bobo (PXP) and CJ Pepper (Analyst) on the call.

Matchup: UTA (11-6, 9-4 SBC) at Arkansas State (9-9, 4-8 SBC)
When: Friday, February 26 | 6:00 p.m.
Where: First National Bank Arena | Jonesboro, Ark.
Live Stats | ESPN+

Matchup: UTA (11-6, 9-4 SBC) at Arkansas State (9-9, 4-8 SBC)
When: Saturday, February 27 | 4:00 p.m.
Where: First National Bank Arena | Jonesboro, Ark.
Live Stats | ESPN+

UP NEXT
The 2021 Sun Belt Women's Basketball Championship in Pensacola, Fla. is on deck for the Lady Mavs.

The 2021 Sun Belt Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 5-8 with first-round and second-round games played simultaneously at the Pensacola Bay Center and Hartsell Arena on the campus of Pensacola State College. Semifinal and championship games will be played at the Bay Center and both championship games are slated for live coverage with the women's final on ESPNU and the men's final on ESPN or ESPN2.

BIGGEST GAMES OF THE SEASON
Despite the split with Texas State a couple weeks ago, UTA still has a chance at a first round bye in the Sun Belt Tournament (March 5-8) in Pensacola, Fla.

UTA needs to finish with the same record or win one more game than Little Rock this weekend. If the Lady Mavs are able to pull it off, then they will lock up the No. 2 seed in the West Division and earn a highly-coveted first round bye. UT Arlington would then open SBC Tourney play in the Quarterfinals vs. the winner of No. 3 East/No. 6 West on Saturday, March 6.

MILESTONES AND RECORDS
Katie Ferrell is currently 4th on UTA's all-time assists list with 356 career assists, while Terryn Milton is sitting in 10th place with 274 career assists. Ferrell is also 11 boards shy of tying Tanya Strong (539; 1995-98) for 21st place on UTA's all-time rebounding list.

At Little Rock (Jan. 22-23), the Lady Mavs saw a pair of players hit career milestones. Milton recorded her 250th career assist on January 23, while Ferrell pulled down her 500th career rebound on January 22.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
UTA ranks in the top 100 nationally in the following categories:

- Assists Per Game (68th; 15.1)
- FG Percentage Defense (18th; 35.2%)
- Scoring Defense (15th; 54.3)
- Scoring Margin (85th; 6.9)
- 3PT FG Defense (53rd; 28.2%)
- Win-Loss Percentage (98th; 64.7)

Individually, Katie Ferrell ranks 54th nationally in assists to turnover ratio (2.15), 65th in total assists (84), 46th in assists per game (4.9) and 100th in steals per game (2.18).

DURING SBC PLAY
In league play, the Lady Mavs are holding opponents to just 50.8 points per game, which is leads the conference. UTA also ranks in the top-3 in the SBC in the following categories:

- Scoring Margin (2nd; +8.8)
- FG% Defense (1st; 34.8%)
- 3PT FG% Defense (2nd; 25.87%)
- Assists (2nd; 14.5)
- Steals (3rd; 9.2)
- Turnover Margin (2nd; +3.62)
- Assist/Turnover Ratio (1st; 1.0)

DEFENSE WINS GAMES
So far this season, UTA has allowed 923 total points, holding the opposition to just 54.3 points per game, which ranks 15th nationally.

The Lady Mavs have held opponents below 65 points 13 times this season. UTA has also limited nine opponents to 35 percent shooting or less from the floor, while forcing 13 of their 17 opponents into 14+ turnovers.

LET IT FLY
Camryn Hawkins is hitting 3-pointers at a 36.5% clip this season, which ranks 5th in the SBC. The junior is also making 1.5 triples per contest to rank 7th in the conference.

In league play, Hawkins has increased her efficiency from behind the arc. The Albuquerque, N.M. native is shooting 38.6% and knocking down 1.5 treys per outing.

WHEN PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY
After averaging no more than six points per game in their collegiate career, Shyia Smith and Bre Wickware have been asked to take on bigger offensive roles for the Lady Mavs this season and they have answered the call.

A transfer from Wichita State, Smith's best season came last year when she averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds on 41.4 percent shooting. The Idabel, Okla. native in her first season in the Blue and Orange is leading the team in scoring (11.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). Smith is also shooting .517 from the floor.

Wickware, who turned in the best season of her collegiate career in 2019-20 after averaging 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds, is UTA's second leading scorer (11.8) and second on the team in rebounding (5.3).

FOLLOW THE LADY MAVS
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 @UTAMavsWBB, on Instagram @UTAMavsWBB and on Facebook at Facebook.com/UTAMavsWBB.