DALLAS, Texas – The UT Arlington women's basketball team concludes their five-game road stint on Friday, Nov. 29, when they take on SMU at 7 p.m. inside the Moody Coliseum.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 42nd matchup between the two programs, with UTA holding a 24-17 overall record. The first matchup between the two dates back to March of 1973, a 34-26 win for the Lady Mavs. UTA holds a 7-13 record while playing at SMU and a 4-6 record in their last 10 matchups. The Lady Mavs are currently riding a four-game win streak in the series, after defeating the Mustangs in their last matchup back in December of 2019, 51-46.
 
SCOUTING SMU
The Mustangs are currently riding a two-game winning streak, defeating Arkansas - Pine Bluff, 82-58, and Lamar, 56-54. SMU holds a 4-1 record inside the Moody Coliseum this season. The Mustangs have two players averaging double digits in scoring with Nya Robertson leading the way with 21.4 points per game while Chantae Embry averages 13.3 points per game. Jessica Peterson leads the Mustangs in rebounding, averaging 10.3 rebounds per game to go along with 9.7 points per game, the third highest mark on the team.
 
KICKIN' IT WITH KOI
Fifth year transfer Koi Love is establishing herself as one of the premier players in the Western Athletic Conference. Through six games, Love is averaging 17.8 points per game, which is currently the second-best mark in the WAC and the 77th best mark in the nation as of 11/27. Love has put up 107 total points in the Lady Mavs six games, which is third in the conference. She has made 49 field goals in the early going, which is tops in the WAC and the 49th best mark in the NCAA. Love's 51.2 field goal percentage is the best mark in the WAC.
 
Love's 16 steals are tied for the second most in the WAC and 83rd in the NCAA. Her average of 2.67 steals per game is also tied for the third best mark in the conference and 65th nationally.
 
In just her second game in the orange and blue, Love finished with a game high 21 points to go along with one rebound, one assist and one steal in 16 minutes. Love's impressive 10-for-11 night from the floor moved her into the record books as well, putting her in a tie for 9th place with a 90.9 field goal percentage, first time since 2020 that's been done.
 
Love recorded 20 points in her Lady Mavs debut, that's the most in a debut for the Lady Mavs in over 10 years. In her first game donning the blue and orange, Love swiped a career high five steals and tied her career high with two made three pointers in 33 minutes of action.
 
ALL AROUND HOOPER
Avery Brittingham is showing why she's a Preseason All-WAC selection in the early portion of the season. Through six games, she has already posted a triple double, one of eight that's happened throughout NCAA Division I.
 
She is tied for the league lead in rebounds at 52 while her average of 8.7 rebounds per game is tied for the league lead, which is also 96th in the NCAA.
 
In the early part of the season, Brittingham has posted two double doubles through six games which is tied for second in the league and 48th in the country. She is currently second on the team in points per game with an even 12.
 
Brittingham's 24 total assists are the fifth most in the WAC while her average of four per game are also the fifth best mark in the conference.
 
AIN'T NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Sophomore Miraya Perkins is shaping up to be a formidable player off the bench in just her second season, appearing in all six games in the early going. Perkins is averaging six points and five rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game, all career highs for the Dallas native.
 
IF IT'S FREE, IT'S FOR ME
As a team, the Lady Mavs are one of the best teams in the conference and the nation in getting to the free throw line in the early part of the season, averaging 25.67 free throw attempts per game, which is the best mark in the WAC and ninth nationally. Their average of 16 free throws made per game is tops in the league and 25th nationally.
 
Brittingham's 41 total free throw attempts is the second-best mark in the conference and the 31st best mark nationally.
 
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
The Lady Mavs are one of the best in the conference when taking care of the basketball. They average 15 turnovers per game, which is tied for the best mark in the conference and the 85th best mark in the nation.
 
DEFENSIVE INTENSITY
The Lady Mavs force 20.17 turnovers a game, the fourth best mark in the WAC and the 81st best in the NCAA.
 
Their 10.2 steals per contest are the fifth best mark in the conference and 77th in the country.
 
The Lady Mavs have the second-best turnover margin in the WAC and the 58th best in the NCAA at 5.17. The Lady Mavs assist to turnover ratio of 0.91 is the third best in the WAC. Brittingham has the third best assist to turnover in the WAC at 2.18 and is the 96th best mark in the country.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The UT Arlington women's basketball team fell on the road to Purdue by a final score of 73-55.
 
In what was head coach Shereka Wright's return to Mackey Arena where she was a three time All American for the Boilermakers, prior to tipoff a short video welcoming coach Wright back played before coach Wright was presented with a ball and received a standing ovation from all in attendance. The head coach for Purdue, Katie Gearlds whom was also a teammate with Wright at Purdue, also sported Wright's number 50 on the back of her pullover.
 
Koi Love led the way for the Lady Mavs, finishing with 12 points while pulling down seven rebounds to go along with two assists and two steals. Avery Brittingham finished with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block.
 
Nya Threatt, Aubrey Reid and Kendal Robinson all chipped in with seven points apiece. Threatt also finished with two rebounds, an assist and a steal while Reid had a rebound and a block. It's a new career high for the freshman Robinson. Zoe Nelson finished with six points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and a block.
 
The Lady Mavs came out stagnant to start the game, going down by as many as 12 before a 7-0 run to end the first quarter brought the Lady Mavs within five, 20-15.
 
Purdue would go on an 8-2 run to start the second quarter to put themselves back up by double digits. UTA could not get it back under 10 as every time the Lady Mavs made a run, Purdue would respond with a run of their own with some tough three pointers falling for the Boilermakers.
 
For the game, the Lady Mavs shot 31 percent from the floor compared to Purdue's 45 percent. Both teams made three triples on the afternoon, with Purdue shooting 23 percent from downtown while UTA shot 19 percent. The Lady Mavs shot better from the charity stripe than the Boilermakers, shooting 67 percent from the foul line compared to 63 percent.
 
Both teams turned the ball over 16 times, leading to 23 points for Purdue while leading to only nine points for the Lady Mavs.
   
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 X (formally known as Twitter) (@UTAMavsWBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsWBB) and Facebook (/UTAMavsWBB).