ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington women's basketball team (6-8, 0-2 WAC) look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Southern Utah (9-4, 1-0 WAC) to the College Park Center. The Lady Mavs Western Athletic Conference home opener is slated for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the eighth meeting all-time between the two programs and the Lady Mavs sit undefeated in the all-time series, coming in to the game at 7-0 over the Thunderbirds. The two met for the first time back in November 2004 in a non-conference matchup. When UTA rejoined the WAC back in 2022, they have met every year since in conference play, with one game coming via the conference tournament. The Lady Mavs hold a perfect 3-0 record inside the College Park Center. The Lady Mavs average 70.29 points while holding the Thunderbirds to 58.14 point per game in the series.
 
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
The Thunderbirds currently sit second in the early WAC standings. On the road, Southern Utah holds a 3-4 record. As a team, the Thunderbirds average 78.5 points per game while holding opponents to 65.0 points per contest. They outrebound opponents by an average margin of 11 (44-33). Southern Utah is the third best shot blocking team in the WAC, averaging 4.8 blocks per contest. The Thunderbirds have three players averaging doubles figures in scoring led by Sierra Chambers (15.7) followed by Ava Uhrich (13.1) and Brooklyn Fely (11.2).
 
CONFERENCE HOME OPENERS
The Lady Mavs are 23-20 all-time in conference home openers. As members of the WAC, the Lady Mavs hold a 2-2 record in WAC home openers as we begin year five in the WAC.
 
 
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 12.5 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 34.3-percent of their attempts, the top mark in the conference and 67th in the nation.
 
In 10 of the Lady Mavs 14 games, UTA has outshot opponents from deep and they are 5-5 in those games.
 
DOWNTOWN LOCKDOWN
The Lady Mavs defend the three-point shot extremely well, holding opponents to 23.8-percent through 14 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 11 of the Lady Mavs' 14 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 14 games, she leads the Lady Mavs in points and rebounds, averaging a near double-double with 12.0 ppg and 8.2 rpg. Her five double-doubles on the year have her tied for the second best mark in the league as well as for 29th nationally. 
 
When she gets to the free throw line, she's almost automatic as she's shooting 75.4-percent from the charity stripe, the fourth best mark in the conference. Her 61 total free throw attempts is the third best mark in the league while her 46 total free throw makes is the second best mark in the conference.
 
Her 115 total rebounds are fourth most in the league and 68th most in the country. She's fourth in the conference with 8.2 rebounds per game which also has her 92nd in the country.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, she's a menace in blocking shots. Her 41 total blocks is the top mark in the WAC and is the fourth best mark in the NCAA. Her average of 2.93 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 4.9 per contest which is the second best mark in the WAC and the 36th 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 14 games, opponents have managed 50 total blocks while the Lady Mavs have blocked 68 shots on the season as a team. UTA averages 4.9 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.
 
FREE99
Through 14 games on the season, the Lady Mavs are shooting 68.1-percent (188-of-276) from the free throw line while opponents are shooting 67.4-percent (225-of-334) from the charity stripe. 
 
The Lady Mavs sit second in the league and 76th in the country in free throw attempts per contest with 19.71. They sit sixth in the conference in free throw percentage at 68.1-percent while coming in at second in the WAC and 92nd in the NCAA in free throws made with 13.43 per contest.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Lady Mavs are an impressive 46-19 at home in Shereka Wright's tenure at the College Park Center, where they played three of their first four games this season and have 13 overall. They went 2-1 over the recent three game homestand. In their lone home game in the month of December, the Lady Mavs took down the Tigers of Texas Southern. Coach Wright has never had a losing record at home and went an astounding 12-1 last season which is the best winning percentage (.923) for the Lady Mavs at home since moving into the CPC back in 2012.
 
The Lady Mavs claimed their 100th victory inside the friendly confines of the CPC last season on Jan. 20, 2024 with a victory over Abilene Christian. UTA sports a 118-70 overall record inside the CPC after picking up their third home victory of the 2025-26 season against Texas Southern. The Lady Mavs seem to be at their best when playing in front of the home fans.
 
DEFENSIVE MENTALITY
The Lady Mavs hang their hats on playing tough and physical defense. UTA forces opponents into 18.07 turnovers per game, the third best mark in the league. They are fourth in the WAC in steals per contest with an average of 8.9.
 
NEXT UP
The Lady Mavs return to action in one week when they travel to Abilene on Saturday, January 10, to take on Abilene Christian inside the Moody Coliseum for a 1 p.m. CT tipoff.
   
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).