LAS VEGAS, Nev. — UT Arlington women's basketball (10-20, 4-14 WAC) opens play in the 2026 Air Force Reserve WAC Women's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, facing Utah Tech (9-19, 4-14 WAC) in the opening game of the tournament at Orleans Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT as the No. 6-seeded Lady Mavs take on the No. 7-seeded Trailblazers with a trip to the quarterfinal round on the line.
UTA and Utah Tech will meet for the 10th time in program history, with the Lady Mavs holding a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series. The teams split the three regular-season meetings this year, with UTA earning home wins of 64-56 on Jan. 15 and 84-78 in double overtime on Feb. 5 before Utah Tech answered with a 60-58 win in St. George on Feb. 18. UTA has also won the lone neutral-site meeting in the series, a 72-57 result in Las Vegas during the 2024 WAC Tournament.
UTA's identity continues to lean on activity and rim protection. The Lady Mavs average 60.8 points per game while shooting 39.5 percent from the floor and 31.0 percent from three, and they continue to make plays defensively with 9.2 steals and 4.9 blocks per contest while holding opponents to 27.5 percent from beyond the arc. Kira Reynolds leads the way with 12.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 71 blocks on the season, while Nya Threatt adds 9.2 points and 45 steals, and Jadyn Atchison chips in 8.4 points per game.
Utah Tech enters postseason play averaging 63.2 points per game and has relied heavily on the three-point shot all season, knocking down 223 triples at 8.0 made threes per contest. Kaylee Borden leads the Trailblazers with 15.9 points per game, while Brie Crittendon adds 10.9 points and 6.4 rebounds, Paige Cofer contributes 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, and Chardonnay Hartley has handed out 142 assists. Utah Tech closed the regular season with a 71-59 loss at Utah Valley on Saturday.
NOTEWORTHY
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Wednesday's game is the first women's game of the 2026 WAC Tournament and opens four straight days of action in Las Vegas.
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UTA and Utah Tech finished the regular season tied at 4-14 in league play, but the Lady Mavs earned the No. 6 seed while Utah Tech enters as the No. 7 seed.
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Three of the four all-time wins for Utah Tech in the series have come by single digits, including the 60-58 decision in the last meeting.
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UTA has already beaten Utah Tech once in Las Vegas, taking a 72-57 victory in the 2024 WAC Tournament.
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The winner advances to face No. 3 seed Southern Utah in Thursday's quarterfinal round.
FOLLOW ALONG
The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT at Orleans Arena and will stream on ESPN+. For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more, follow the women's basketball program on X and Instagram @UTAMavsWBB.
– #BuckEm –
