ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington women's basketball team (13-7, 8-1 WAC) won their fifth straight game while remaining undefeated at home after exacting some revenge and beating Utah Valley (13-8, 5-4 WAC) 85-83 Thursday evening inside the College Park Center.
 
With the victory, the Lady Mavs pick up their ninth win inside the CPC while moving their conference record to an impressive 8-1, remaining in second in the conference standings. The win swings the all-time series in favor of the Lady Mavs who now lead 3-2 and get some revenge on the Wolverines who handed UTA their lone conference loss last month in Orem.
 
The Lady Mavs were led by senior guard Taliyah Clark who tied her season high with 24 points while going 5-for-9 from deep and grabbing three rebounds, dishing out two assists, having two block shots and a steal in 31 minutes of action.
 
Aspen Thornton started her second game this season, first time since at SMU back in late November. In the starting lineup, Thornton finished with 13 points while grabbing three rebounds, dishing out three assists and getting a steal in a season high 34 minutes of action. This is her second straight game in double figures and third time in the last four games.
 
Reigning Western Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Week Koi Love finished with 12 points. Although she scored under her season average, Love effected the games in other ways by grabbing a team high seven rebounds and tying her conference high of six assists to go along with two steals in a game high 35 minutes.
 
Off the bench, the Lady Mavs got major contributions from Miraya Perkins, Zoe Nelson and Aubrey Reid. Perkins finished with nine points, one rebound, two assists and a steal in 17 minutes. Nelson had her best performance in conference play, finishing with eight points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 24 minutes. Reid saw her first action in over a month and did not disappoint, tying her career high of seven points while dishing out a career high two assists and grabbing one rebound and a steal in nine minutes of work.


 
The Lady Mavs trailed for 28 minutes and 11 seconds while leading for 7 minutes and 38 seconds while the game was tied for a total of 4 minutes and 11 seconds. The Wolverines largest lead all night was when they were up 14 in the second quarter. The Lady Mavs managed to chip into that 14-point deficit before the half, going into the locker room down five, 41-36.
 
UTA exploded for 49 points in the second half, the best final two quarter stretch to close out a game in conference play. The Lady Mavs limited Utah Valley to 42 second half points to secure the two-point win. 
 
The Lady Mavs recorded the first four points of the third quarter but couldn't tie or take a lead for a large portion of the third quarter. UTA managed to tie the game at 58 apiece with under two minutes left in the third. UVU managed to retake the lead before UTA tied it up again and taking their first lead since early in the first quarter. The Lady Mavs would send the Wolverines to the free throw line where they would tie it back up at 62 apiece to send us to the fourth quarter.
 
The two would trade baskets to start the fourth before Utah Valley would go on a 9-0 run to go up by seven, 73-66 with a shade over five minutes to go. The Lady Mavs managed to tie it back up at 74 apiece with 3:39 left in the game. UTA would go on to take the lead before back-to-back bad passes in the final minute led to four Wolverine points and an 81-81 tie. A layup from Nelson regained the lead for UTA. On the next play the Lady Mavs defense caused a Utah Valley turnover before being sent to the free throw line where Brittingham would knock down one of two free throws. A quick two by the Wolverines made it 84-83 before sending the Lady Mavs back to the free throw line where Clark would hit one of two with five seconds left. Utah Valley managed to get a final shot off but fell way short as time expired.
 
As a team, the Lady Mavs shot 50.9 percent from the floor compared to the Wolverines 49.2 percent. UTA also managed to outshoot UVU from deep, going 35.3 percent from beyond the arc while holding the Wolverines to just 15.8 percent for the game.


 
NEXT UP
The Lady Mavs close out their two game homestand this Saturday, Feb. 8, when they welcome Seattle U to the College Park Center. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. central. Join the Lady Mavs as we celebrate Black History Month in our annual Black History game. It is also Saturday Fun Day and we will have post-game autographs.
   
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).