SAN MARCOS, Texas – Two nights after stunning Texas State in the final seconds, the UT Arlington women's basketball team fired back on Saturday afternoon with a huge third quarter to take control and run away with a 72-65 victory over the Bobcats inside Strahan Arena.
The win moves UTA to 11-5 overall and 5-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, remaining tied atop the conference standings. Texas State falls to 8-11 and 3-4 in the SBC.
Junior
Starr Jacobs scored 26 points to go with eight boards and two steals, while senior Terryn Miltn poured in 18 points including four boards and four assists.
Senior
De'Sha Benjamin scored seven off the bench, while senior
Claire Chastain added six, four boards, four assists, and two blocks. Senior
Shyia Smith had five points and five rebounds and senior
Camryn Hawkins scored five off the bench.
Senior
Katie Ferrell added three points, two boards, two assists, and two blocks.
Da'Nasia Hood led Texas State with 21 points, 15 boards, and three steals, while Lauryn Thompson had 14 points and six rebounds. Kennedy Taylor had 12 assists.
Smith scored four of the first six points of the game including a steal that led to an easy basket as UTA held an early 6-2 advantage. Texas State charged back with a 10-3 run that took up most of the quarter to move back ahead 12-9 and took a 15-11 lead at the end of one.
Texas State maintained that lead throughout the second quarter, pushing it as high as five points as the UTA offense struggled to get rolling. Milton, along with Jacobs, kept the Lady Mavs aflot as they scored all 17 of UTA's points. Milton scored the final five for the Lady Mavs to cut it to a 30-28 game at the break.
The Lady Mavs completely flipped the script in the third quarter as they opened up with a bang as a 9-0 run suddenly had the Lady Mavs up seven. Ferrell drained a triple, while Chastain converted a 3-point play during the run.
Texas State cut it down to five, but UTA responded with a 3-pointer from Benjamin and followed with a fastbreak layup from Milton to move their lead to 42-32 in the first three minutes.
The Bobcats cut it back down to five again, but Jacobs and Milton went back to work as they continued to pound the rock inside. With UTA leading 51-45, Milton made the play of the game as she charged in and pulled down a missed 3-pointer. She proceeded to drive to the cup and dump off a no-look pass to Hawkins to bring the crowd to its feet.
The Lady Mavs would take a 55-47 into the final period and Jacobs would take complete control as she scored 11 and helped the Lady Mavs build a lead as high as 16 midway through the fourth.
Texas State would make a late run in the final three minutes, but it was far too late as UTA wrapped up the game and earned a tough road win, 72-65, sweeping the Bobcats.
BOX SCORE NUGGETS
- UTA shot 10 of 17 (.558) from the field in the third quarter including 3 of 5 (.600) from behind the arc.
- The Lady Mavs held a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers as they turned Texas State over 16 times.
- UTA was 7 of 9 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter including 5 of 5 from Starr Jacobs.
- The Lady Mavs had 44 points in the paint.
- UTA held Texas State to 2 of 24 shooting from behind the arc.
- Milton scored nine and Jacobs scored eight in the 17 total points scored in the second quarter.
NOTABLES
- UTA has won three in a row over Texas State and five of the last six.
- It is the first time the Lady Mavs have swept Texas State since 2018-19, which is the last time UTA won the regular season title.
- It is the eighth time this season Starr Jacobs has scored 20 or more points and the third time she has scored 25 or more.
- Terryn Milton's eight made field goals matches a career-high.
- It is the second time this season Milton has made eight field goals in a game. She previously hit that mark against Houston on Nov. 17, 2021.
- The 27 points was the most points scored in the third quarter this season.
- The 44 second half points ties for the most points in a second half this season, matching Rice on Dec. 4, 2021.
QUOTABLES
"I'm excited about our team and our program. It's tough to play a team twice like this. I thought our kids got off to a little of a slow start, but they responded to our challenge at halftime. Texas State is a very good team and to be able to add those wins to our resume in huge." -
Shereka Wright
"It always fun. I love being a quarterback and throwing it down the court. We get easy buckets off of transition and it's works for us." -
Terryn Milton
NEXT UP
UTA will remain on the road as they prepare for their Arkansas road trip. Things get started on Thursday as they take on Arkansas State at 6 p.m.
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).
