ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington women's basketball team (15-14, 11-8 WAC) ended the 2023-24 home campaign on a high-note, defeating Utah Valley (9-18, 4-14 WAC) 67-53 on Senior Day from inside the College Park Center.
 
Before the game started, there was a presentation honoring two seniors, fifth year transfer forward Adela Valkova and special assistant to the head coach Reagan Hukill. Both were honored with a special framed jersey and some kind words spoken on their contributions to the women's basketball program.
 
The win marks the 750th win in Lady Mavs program history in their 52nd year of competition for an average of a little over 14 wins a season!
 
Four Lady Mavs registered double digit scoring efforts highlighted by Gia Adams who led all scorers with 19 points. Adams also pulled down five rebounds, dished out five assists and had a season-high four steals in 36 minutes of action.
 
Taliyah Clark finished with 17 points, hitting three triples while securing six rebounds and tossing out one assist in 36 minutes. Avery Brittingham posted her team and WAC-leading 10th double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Brittingham also tied her career-high with four blocks, her second game in a row with four blocks. She also dished out three assists and had three steals in 36 minutes.
 
Adela Valkova had quite the Senior Day, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. She also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds and had four blocks, one block shy of matching her career best. Valkova finished with two steals, matching her season-high and dished out an assist. 
 
As a team, the Lady Mavs finished with a season-high 11 blocks, which is tied for the second most in team history, and is the third time overall they have accomplished that feat (First time – Feb. 5, 2004 at ULM & Second time – Feb. 16, 2023 vs Sam Houston).


UTA started fast, jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game and kept the defensive tenacity up, holding Utah Valley scoreless until the 5:49 mark in the first quarter. The Lady Mavs kept up the defensive pressure in the first, going up by as many as nine points and holding the Wolverines to seven total first quarter points. UTA would go into the second up by seven, 14-7.
 
UVU had their best scoring quarter in the second, putting up 20 points and holding the Lady Mavs offense to just 12 points, their lowest scoring quarter of the game. The Wolverines would tie the game at 17 points apiece with five minutes left in the half and would eventually take the lead with under four to play. There would be two ties and five lead changes for the remainder of the quarter and the Lady Mavs would head into the locker room down by one, 26-27.
 
Coming out the break, the Lady Mavs picked back up with the defensive pressure and forcing the Wolverines into some tough shots. After a quick basket by UVU to start off the third, the Lady Mavs would go on a 9-0 run to regain the lead with 6:43 left in the third to go up by six, 35-29. The Lady Mavs never looked back, maintaining the lead for the remainder of the contest and would go up by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.
 
With the win, the Lady Mavs now hold a 2-1 record all-time against the Wolverines with a 1-0 record inside the College Park Center.


NEXT UP
The Lady Mavs conclude the regular season on the road when they travel to Riverside, Calif. to take on California Baptist from inside the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. central time.
   
FOLLOW ALONG
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