ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington women's basketball team (7-6, 2-0 WAC) close out their four game homestand when they welcome Southern Utah (2-13, 0-2 WAC) to the College Park Center on Saturday, Jan. 11, afternoon for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the sixth overall meeting between the two programs with the Lady Mavs holding a perfect 5-0 overall record, The first ever meeting between the two came back a little over 20 years ago in November of 2004. This will be the third time the Thunderbirds have made the trek to Arlington, their first time coming back in February 2023. The Lady Mavs average 70.4 points per game in the series while holding Southern Utah to an average of 59 points a game.
 
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
The Thunderbirds are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and hold an 0-5 record on the road. Southern Utah averages 61.3 points per game while allowing opponents 70.4 a game. They average 36.1 rebounds and 14.6 assists per game. Ava Uhrich averages 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Daylani Ballena averages 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
 
NATURAL BORN SCORER
Fifth year transfer Koi Love is solidifying herself as one of the top scorers in the Western Athletic Conference. 
 
Through 13 games, Love is averaging an even 18 points per game, which is currently the second-best mark in the WAC and the 51st best mark in the nation as of Jan. 10. Love has put up 234 total points in the Lady Mavs' 13 games, which is fourth in the conference. She has made 97 field goals on the season, which is third in the WAC and 75th in the NCAA while her 53.3 field goal percentage is the second-best mark in the WAC and 48th overall. She has five 20-point performances on the season.
 
Love's 28 steals are tied for the eighth most in the WAC. Her average of 2.33 steals per game is the fourth best mark in the conference and 79th nationally. 
 
ALL AROUND HOOPER
Avery Brittingham has proven time and time again that she is one of the premier players in this league. She has posted a league high seven double doubles through 13 games which is 21st in the country. She nearly averages a double double for the season with 13.1 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game.
 
Her 1.87 assist to turnover ratio is third in the conference and 81st in the country.
 
IF IT'S FREE, IT'S FOR ME
As a team, the Lady Mavs are one of the best teams in the nation in getting to the free throw line at the halfway point of the season, averaging a league high 21.54 free throw attempts per game which is the 18th best mark nationally. Their average of 14.85 free throws made per game is tops in the league and 25th nationally. 
 
The Lady Mavs are seeming to find their stride at the right time, the previous five games UTA has shot 80-percent or better from the charity stripe. Those five games are the only games this season UTA shot above 80-percent. This has helped bring their free throw percentage up to fifth in the league at 68.9 percent.
 
DEFENSIVE INTENSITY
The Lady Mavs force 19.15 turnovers a game, the fourth best mark in the WAC and the 77th best mark in the NCAA.
 
Their 10.1 steals per contest are the fourth best mark in the conference and 71st in the country.
 
The Lady Mavs have the fourth best turnover margin in the WAC and the 83rd best in the NCAA at 3.08.
 
THE FACILITATORS
The Lady Mavs are one of the top teams in the conference when it comes to dishing out assists, their 15.5 per game are the second most in the WAC and 77th overall in the NCAA. Their 0.97 assist to turnover ratio is the second-best mark in the conference and 98th best in the NCAA.
 
Brittingham's 56 total assists lead the team while tied for the fifth most in conference while her average of 4.3 per game are the fourth best mark in the conference and 86th nationally. 
 
Love's average of 3.6 per game are tied for sixth in the conference.
 
HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE
The Lady Mavs have the third best scoring offense in the conference and 87th best in the country, averaging 71.8 points per game. Their 5.2 scoring margin in the fourth best mark in the WAC. The bench averages 22.3 points per game, the third best mark in the conference.
 
STILL THROWING A BLOCK PARTY
The Lady Mavs are still one of the better shot blocking teams in the WAC a year later after leading the league and having two of the top shot blockers in the conference a season ago.
 
The Lady Mavs average 4.3 blocks per game, the best mark in the conference and 48th nationally. The Lady Mavs once again have two of the top four shot blockers in the WAC with Love averaging 1.15 per game, the third highest mark in the conference while Brittingham averages 1.08 per game, the fourth highest mark in the conference. Zoe Nelson averages 0.92 per game which is the ninth best mark in the league.
 
In 13 games, the Lady Mavs have posted at least one block in each contest. Their best block performance as a team came against Arkansas when they had nine, the second most by a WAC team on the season and have two other games on the year where they posted seven apiece while having two six block performances also. The Lady Mavs kicked off conference play with a five-block performance against Tarleton State and followed it up with another five-block performance against Utah Tech.
 
QUEENS OF THE BOARDS
The Lady Mavs are one of the top rebounding teams in the country, averaging a league leading 40.15 rebounds per game which is the 64th best mark in the country. Offensively, UTA averages 13.5 which is third best in the WAC and 74th best in the NCAA. Defensively, their average of 26.7 leads the WAC and is 98th best in the country. The Lady Mavs own the fourth best rebound margin in the conference at 0.4.
 
Brittingham's 9.4 rebounds per game are the top mark in the conference and 45th nationally while her 122 total rebounds are the second most in the WAC. 
 
Love's 7.1 rebounds per game is the fourth best mark in the conference.
 
PREPARE FOR TROUBLE & MAKE IT DOUBLE
The UT Arlington women's basketball team swept the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) weekly awards on Monday as fifth year forward Avery Brittingham earned her first WAC Player of the Week honor of the season, while fellow fifth year forward Koi Love earned her fourth overall and third straight WAC Newcomer of the Week honor.
 
The dynamic duo combined for 51 total points in an 87-79 conference-opening win over Tarleton State this past Saturday afternoon.
 
Brittingham finished the game with her sixth double-double, logging 22 points and 13 rebounds to go along with five assists, one block and one steal in a season-high 39 minutes. It was her first 20-point performance this season.
 
A preseason all-conference nominee, it's Brittingham's first weekly honors on the season.
 
Love led all scorers with a season high 29 points in to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 34 minutes. Love also tied her career high in blocks with three while finishing three points shy of tying her career high of 32. 
 
This is Love's third straight newcomer of the week honor, and her fourth overall on the season. This ties Love for a program-high four newcomer weekly honors which was set by Gia Adams the previous season. 
 
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
The Lady Mavs are one of the best in the conference when taking care of the basketball, averaging 16.1 turnovers per game which is the second-best mark in the WAC.
 
THE PRICE IS WRIGHT
Head coach Shereka Wright overtook Cindy Salser (1976-79) for the sixth most wins in school history with 52 last season after a win against Tarleton State on Jan. 4, 2024. After their second conference win of the season over Utah Tech, Wright now has 71 wins and trails Krista Gerlich (121), Donna Capps (119), Connie Kelch (117), Mike Dean (115) and Samantha Morrow (74). Wright's .568 winning percentage is the third best in program history.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Lady Mavs claimed their 100th victory inside the friendly confines of the College Park Center with a win over Abilene Christian back on Jan. 20, 2024. After their second conference win of the season over Utah Tech, the Lady Mavs now sport a 109-68 overall record and a perfect 6-0 record in 2024-25 at the CPC. UTA seems to be at their best when playing in front of the home crowd.
   
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).