ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington women's basketball team stumbled in their home opener, falling 69-53 to a tough Missouri State team on Friday night inside the College Park Center.
The Lady Mavs played some pestering defense, forcing the Lady Bears into 19 turnovers to go along with a menacing 10 blocked shots. The 10 blocks tied for the third most in program history while freshman Kira Reynolds' game high six solo blocks is also tied for the third most in school history. The 10 blocks is more than any game this past season.
UTA had two players score in double figures, led by Jadyn Atchison, who had 10 points, four assists and two steals. Kira Reynolds added 10 points, eight rebounds and six blocks from the bench while Amiyah Reynolds chipped in with six points and two blocks.
GAME FLOW
The Lady Mavs and Lady Bears traded blows back and forth in the first quarter, a quarter that saw eight lead changes and five ties. UTA managed to tie the game and then take the lead behind two made free throws from Kali Haizlip with 19 seconds left in the quarter before the Lady Bears came down the other end of the court and hit a three as the buzzer sounded to put them up by two, 15-13 over the Lady Mavs. UTA managed to hold Missouri State to just 3-of-11 shooting from the floor in the final five minutes to end the quarter.
Missouri State came out swinging in the second quarter, going on a 10-0 run before UTA recorded their first bucket of the quarter with a little over six minutes left before the half. The Lady Bears managed to run their lead up to as many as 14 in the second, but UTA managed to chip away before the half, heading into the locker room down seven, 33-26.
UTA started the half by managing to pull within four, 35-31, before a 10-0 run by the Lady Bears put them up 45-31. Missouri State would continue to increase their lead in the quarter, building a 49-35 advantage before UTA went on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a three from Nya Threatt at the buzzer, to trim its deficit to 49-40.
The Lady Mavs managed to cut the deficit down to eight, 50-42, early in the fourth quarter before Missouri State went on a 14-0 run that proved to be too much to overcome for UTA.
GAME NOTES
» The Lady Mavs proved sharing is caring, recording an assist on 61 percent of made baskets.
» The UTA bench ignited the offense, recording 43 points.
» Kira Reynolds recorded double figures scoring for the second straight game, starting off her collegiate career strong.
» UTA forced Missouri State into 19 turnovers while only committing 18 themselves, a stark contrast from the Houston game.
» The 10 total team blocks is more than any game from last season.
» Miraya Perkins added six points while Kali Haizlip finished with five.
» UTA got a team-high eight rebounds from Kira Reynolds.
» The Lady Mavs shot better from the free throw line, going 77.8-percent for the game while the Lady Bears shot 70.8-percent.
NEXT UP
The Lady Mavs will welcome Wyoming to the College Park Center this upcoming Tuesday, Nov. 11, for a 6:30 p.m. CT tipoff.
– #BuckEm –
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).
