LAS VEGAS, Nev. –The third-seeded UT Arlington women's basketball team battled throughout but fell in heartbreaking fashion to the top seeded Grand Canyon Lopes 65-62 in the 2025 Hercules Tires Western Athletic Conference Tournament Championship inside the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lady Mavs had three players score in double figures, led by Koi Love, who had a game high 21 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and a steal in 36 minutes. Avery Brittingham tacked on 12 points with a team high eight rebounds along with two assists, a block and a steal in 30 minutes. Taliyah Clark helped out with 11 points, four assists, three steals and two blocks in 35 minutes.
 
UTA shared the ball well in Saturday's game, racking up 19 assists on 23 made field goals. Individually, Aspen Thornton led the way for the Lady Mavs with five assists.
 
UTA forced 23 Grand Canyon turnovers. The Lady Mavs turned those takeaways into 24 points on the other end of the floor. Clark's three steals led the way for UTA.


 
GAME FLOW
After falling behind 13-10, UTA went on a 6-0 run with 3:47 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Zoe Nelson, to take a 16-13 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. UTA did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 16 points close to the basket.
 
The Lady Mavs maintained their lead in the game's second frame and entered halftime with a 26-25 edge. UTA dominated in the paint, scoring six of its 10 points close to the basket.
 
Grand Canyon then took a 31-27 lead following intermission before UTA went on a 14-0 run to grab a 41-31 lead with 5:06 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lopes had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Lady Mavs still entered the fourth quarter with a 48-44 edge. UTA took advantage of seven Grand Canyon turnovers in the quarter, scoring 13 points off of takeaways.
 
Grand Canyon then erased the UTA lead with just over five minutes left in the game's final quarter, a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game despite the Lady Mavs furious efforts to retake the lead. With 38 seconds left in the game, Clark hit a three pointer to make it a one-point lead for the Lopes, 63-62. The Lady Mavs managed to get a stop with Brittingham corralling the rebound before Callie Cooper swiped it away from Brittingham with four seconds left. UTA fouled but Tiarra Brown made both free throws for the 65-62 comeback victory after UTA's half-court shot bounced off the front of the rim. 
 
UTA took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 14 points in the paint.
 
GAME NOTES

• The Lady Mavs held the Lopes to only 39-percent shooting from the field, well below their season average of 49.3-percent. The Lady Mavs also held the Lopes to shooting 25-percent from deep, well below their season average of 38.1-percent.
• All five starters recorded a bucket for the Lady Mavs.
• The UTA defense forced 23 turnovers, the 14th time this season UTA forced their opponent into 20 plus turnovers. 
• The Lady Mavs shot well from three-point range, knocking down five of 11 long range attempts.
• The Lady Mavs put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 83 percent of made baskets.
• Thornton added nine points off the bench in 25 minutes.
• Love and Nelson both finished with six rebounds. 
• The Lady Mavs scored 30 points in the paint.
• UTA led for the majority of the game, 24:05 to be exact, while outshooting the Lopes 45-percent to 39-percent from the field and 45-percent to 25-percent from deep.
• The Lady Mavs are now 4-5 all-time in the WAC Tournament after losing their first appearance in the championship game.

– #BuckEm –

 
FOLLOW ALONG
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