TAMPA, Fla. - The UT Arlington women's basketball team will begin the 52nd season in program history on Monday, November 6, when the Lady Mavs travel to Tampa as they are set to battle South Florida in the Yuengling Center.
 
This is first time the Lady Mavs have opened the season on the road since the 2015-16 season, where they opened up at Baylor. UTA holds a 25-26 all-time record in season opening games, including a 7-18 record when opening the season on the road. In their past 10 season openers, the Lady Mavs boast an impressive 7-3 record.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This is the fifth time both squads have squared off, with the first match up between the two dating back 31 years ago to December of 1992. The all-time series is tied at two games apiece. UTA has played twice in Florida and USF has played twice in Arlington, with the home team getting the victory in each match up. 
 
12/28/92          L 62-69            Orlando, Florida
12/3/93            W 81-54          Arlington, Texas 
11/19/05          L 50-74            Tampa, Florida 
12/2/21            W 61-56          Arlington, Texas 
 
The last time these two teams met, the Lady Mavs won their first and only game over a ranked opponent. USF was ranked No. 13/17 at the time.
 
RESTOCKING THE PANTRY
With only three returners, the Lady Mavs are having to replace 94 percent of their scoring from a season ago. For that, Coach Wright hit the transfer portal and brought in two key intraconference players in Avery Brittingham (Stephen F. Austin) and Taliyah Clark (Seattle U).
 
Brittingham was a First Team All-WAC player last season after averaging 10.5 points per contest for the Lumberjacks, which was third on the team. In addition to her scoring, Brittingham led SFA in rebounding with 8.2 per contest as well as being second on the team in assists with 90. A sturdy and reliable player, Brittingham averaged 25.9 minutes per game, third best for the Lumberjacks.
 
In 29 games for the RedHawks, Clark led Seattle U with 10.8 points per game, shooting .342 from the field. She led the RedHawks with 53 three-pointers made on the year. Clark doesn't just focus on the offensive end, but is a tenacious defender who was second on Seattle U with 33 steals and 17 blocks.
 
Gia Adams, a transfer from Tennessee State, will be a key piece this upcoming season for the Mavericks. Adams has already compiled 766 points at the NCAA Division I level, where she averaged 13.4 points over 57 career games. In her first season of college ball, Adams was named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals over 31 games, all of which were starts.
 
Masengo Mutanda joins UTA by way of Jacksonville State where she averaged 5 points, 3.1 rebounds and nearly one assist over 26 games.
 
Several junior college transfers look to play an integral role for the Lady Mavs this upcoming season. Kali Haizlip, who helped lead the College of Southern Idaho to an NJCAA Final Four appearance. Keiori Lee, who spent the past three seasons at Moberly Area Community College and helped them to two appearnces in the NJCAA Tournament. Hannah Humphrey, who helped lead Blinn College to two appearances in the NJCAA Tournament, including the quarterfinals as well as being named a NJCAA Second Team All-American during the 2022-23 season.
 
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPERIENCE
Despite only returning three players from the previous years team, UTA has composed a roster of 15 athletes with 315 games of Division I level experience amongst nine players, 158 of those contests being starts. Avery Brittingham (78 games), Gia Adams (57 games) and Taliyah Clark (57 games) are the three Mavericks with over 50 games of Division I experience.
 
NEXT UP
UTA will return home and face off against Lamar for Homecoming on Friday, November 10, at 5 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).