LAIE, Hawaii – We sat down with true freshman Kira Reynolds after her outstanding performance and buzzer beater led the UT Arlington women's basketball team to their first win over the Texas A&M Aggies in nearly 50 years.
 
Reynolds led the Lady Mavs with her third career double-double, putting up a career-high 22 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. She also finished with three blocks, two assists and one steal in a game-high 36 minutes of action, a new collegiate career-high for Reynolds.
 
Q: Walk us through that last sequence of events from your perspective and did you know how much time you had when you secured that rebound?
 
A: "I knew when my teammate got fouled and had the opportunity to either tie or win the game that there was a possibility that she missed both free throw attempts. After she missed the first I told myself that any way the ball comes off I got to go get it and go straight up with it. I knew how much time was left on the clock beforehand so I also told myself that I may have to possibly tip it in, given the situation."
 
Q: What was the team/coach's reaction like? Who did you see first?
 
A: "I actually didn't see anyone's reaction right after the layup because I was so locked in but when the game was officially over, the first people I seen was definitely our managers rushing the floor. I think the whole team shared the same excitement and maybe even more then I had shown, everyone was up off the bench."
 
Q: What particularly clicked for you today as you accounted for a good portion of the teams points?
 
A: "I would attribute it to really leaning into what my coaches have been telling me, to just be aggressive and it will come. I believe once I got going, my team showed a great amount of trust in me by getting me the ball and giving me space to work."
 
Q: Your third collegiate double-double, how has the transition from high school to college ball been? What has been the easiest and the most challenging part for you?
 
A: "I think at first the transition from high school ball to college was definitely difficult, but I have a great support system with my coaches, teammates, managers and family that pushes me and reassures me in my talent. I would say nothing has really been easy so far but definitely the hardest part has been getting used to the physicality and the strength of girls who have collegiate experience."
 
Q: Was that your first buzzer beater? If not, where would you stack it up against the others?
 
A: " That was my first buzzer beater that I can remember!"
 
Q: You helped lead the team to their first win over Texas A&M since 1976 and the first win over an SEC opponent since 2006, how does that make you feel doing it with this team?
 
A: "I wouldn't have wanted to do it with any other team or any other coaching staff. Every quarter you could feel how much we wanted that game and everyone was bought into that feeling doing what they do best and uplifting everyone around. I think we're starting to get good chemistry and a good feel with each other so this win definitely feels good, especially being in Hawaii."
   
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