RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UT Arlington women's basketball team (6-7, 0-1 WAC) look to bounce back on Thursday afternoon out West when they take on California Baptist (7-7, 1-0 WAC) in the second game of Western Athletic Conference action. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT inside the Fowler Events Center.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the ninth all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Lady Mavs trailing in the series 2-6. Their lone two wins in the series come in their past two matchups, with the Lady Mavs defeating the Lancers in the WAC Quarterfinals in Las Vegas and inside the CPC previous to the tournament. UTA comes into the road game 0-3 all-time in Riverside. Inside the Fowler Events Center in the all-time series, the Lancers average 82.7 points per contest, registering 90 points the past two games in Riverside, while the Lady Mavs average 71.7 points per contest out West.
 
SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers enter the contest with a 7-7 overall record and defeated Utah Valley 82-51 in the conference opener. CBU holds a 5-2 record inside the Fowler Events Center, with the lone conference game happening in Riverside. The Lancers enter the contest as the best shot blocking team in the WAC, averaging 5.4 blocks per contest which is the 18th best mark in the nation. CBU has four players averaging double figures in points led by Lauren Olsen (13.9) followed by Grace Schmidt (11.2), Emma Johansson (10.8) and Khloe Lemon (10.3). Filipa Barros leads the WAC in assists.
 
SHOOTERS SHOOT
The Lady Mavs are one of the better shooting three-point teams in the conference despite taking the least amount of attempts, averaging a league-low 12.7 attempts per game and converting on 4.3 of those attempts, also a league low. Despite the amount, the Lady Mavs sit near the top of the league leaderboards in three-point percentage, converting 33.9-percent of their attempts, the second best mark in the conference and 77th in the nation.
 
In nine of the Lady Mavs 13 games, UTA has outshot opponents from deep and they are 5-4 in those games.
 
DOWNTOWN LOCKDOWN
The Lady Mavs defend the three-point shot extremely well, holding opponents to 23.6-percent through 13 games on the season. This is the top mark in the conference and the ninth best mark in the nation.
 
Through non-conference play, the Lady Mavs held opponents to 42-of-187 from deep, an average of 3.5 threes per game.
 
Opponents have shot under 30-percent from deep in 10 of the Lady Mavs' 13 contests. 
 
YOU SURE SHE'S JUST A FRESHMAN?
True freshman Kira Reynolds has made her presence for the Lady Mavs not only known throughout the league, but putting the whole nation on notice. Through 13 games, she leads the Lady Mavs in points and rebounds, averaging a near double-double with 11.8 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Her five double-doubles on the year have her tied for the second best mark in the league as well as for 24th nationally. 
 
When she gets to the free throw line, she's almost automatic as she's shooting 75.0-percent from the charity stripe, the fifth best mark in the conference. Her 60 total free throw attempts is the third best mark in the league while her 45 total free throw makes is the second best mark in the conference.
 
Her 110 total rebounds are fourth most in the league and 62nd most in the country. She's fifth in the conference with 8.5 rebounds per game which also has her 74th in the country.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, she's a menace in blocking shots. Her 39 total blocks is the top mark in the WAC and is the fourth best mark in the NCAA. Her average of 3.00 blocks per game is the best mark in the league while it has her ranked fourth in the nation.
 
BENCH MOB
The Lady Mavs boast one of the best benches in the WAC, with the bench averaging an impressive 22.2 points per game which is the third best mark in the conference.
 
STILL THROWING A BLOCK PARTY
The Lady Mavs have been one of the better shot blocking teams in the WAC the past two seasons and it is still setting up to be the trend this season as UTA averages a shade under five blocks per game, coming in at 4.8 per contest which is the second best mark in the WAC and the 38th best mark nationally.
 
LONG AND ATHLETIC
The Lady Mavs give teams fits down in the paint with their length. Opposing teams have trouble blocking the Lady Mavs' shots. Through 12 games, opponents have managed 47 total blocks while the Lady Mavs have blocked 63 shots on the season as a team. UTA averages 4.8 blocks per contest while opponents average 3.6 blocks per game. A total of nine of the 12 players on the roster have recorded a block on the season.
 
NO LIMIT VETERAN
Senior point guard Nya Threatt is coming into her newfound role as the leader of the team as the most experienced player on the team with 68 starts under her belt. She is coming off a career night where she dropped a new career best 21 points in front of a homecoming crowd inside the CPC. She currently sits second on the Lady Mavs averaging 9.6 points per game to go along with a team-high 33 assists and 15 steals in 10 games for the point guard.
 
FREE99
Through 13 games on the season, the Lady Mavs are shooting 69.3-percent (176-of-254) from the free throw line while opponents are shooting 67.2-percent (213-of-317) from the charity stripe.
 
The Lady Mavs sit second in the league and 81st in the country in free throw attempts per contest with 19.54. They sit fourth in the conference in free throw percentage at 69.3-percent while coming in at second in the WAC and 89th in the NCAA in free throws made with 13.54 per contest.
 
DEFENSIVE MENTALITY
The Lady Mavs hang their hats on playing tough and physical defense. UTA forces opponents into 18.23 turnovers per game, the third best mark in the league. They are fourth in the WAC in steals per contest with an average of 9.3.
 
CONFERENCE OPENERS
The Lady Mavs are 25-19 all-time in conference opening games and are 2-3 in the WAC. Following a loss to start WAC play, the Lady Mavs are 2-1. Under Coach Wright, the Lady Mavs are 4-1 following the conference opener.
 
NEXT UP
The Lady Mavs return to Arlington to host Southern Utah for UTA's conference home opener on Saturday, January 3, with tipoff slated for 2 p.m. CT inside the College Park Center.
   
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).