Lady Mavs Look to Keep Home Record Perfect
By Reginald Lewis - Office of Communication
Posted on November 26, 2014, November 26, 2014

UTA-Sports

After a 2-0 start to begin the season, the Lady Mavericks will look to bounce back from a loss for the first time when they host Northern Arizona on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at College Park Center.

UT Arlington went back-and-forth with Wichita State in Saturday's loss on the road, but was able to return with positives after competing against the two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference champions.

"We took a lot of positives away from the game but it is hard to watch the film because we beat ourselves," UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich said. "We turned the ball over a few times on the offensive end and we need to really value our possessions and we had some defensive breakdowns where they got some easy scores."

UTA's freshmen continue to show that the future is bright for this Lady Mavericks squad. Rebekah Van Dijk picked up her second-career double-double against the Shockers in just her third collegiate game and Cierra Johnson led UTA with 17 points.

"I thought they really competed and went to war and had the mindset that we wanted to have which was to go right at them and they weren't intimidated by any means," Gerlich said. "That is great for a freshman, especially for their first road game and playing against a tough opponent. They did a great job."

The Lady Mavericks' 2-0 home start is the best since the 2008-09 season, when UTA opened with a 7-0 home record. To remain perfect, the Lady Mavs will have to avenge a 20-point defeat at the hands of Northern Arizona last season.

"We didn't even get off the bus last year," Gerlich said. "This is a different team and a different mindset and we just have to do what we do and we can't be concerned with what they are doing and just do what we do well."

What UTA has done well thus far this season has been showing on both sides of the ball. The Lady Mavs lead the Sun Belt Conference in rebounding margin at +8.7, in large part due to Van Dijk's play on the boards as the freshman sits in a tie for fifth in rebounding with 16.0 per game. UTA is also third in scoring (78.0 ppg) and second in scoring margin (+19.3).

Following the tilt against Northern Arizona, the Lady Mavericks will return to action for two games next week. UTA welcomes former Southland Conference rival UTSA on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. and travel to face Kansas State on Thursday, Dec. 4.

OPENING AT COLLEGE PARK: The Lady Mavs open the season with 4 of its first 5 games at College Park Center. UTA's nonconference slate sees the Mavericks playing 5 contests at College Park Center. UTA opens the season Nov. 14 vs. Missouri Valley College. UTA visits Kansas State on Dec. 4 for its lone meeting with a Power 5 conference member.The Mavericks face 5 Lone Star opponents in nonconference with UTA playing Houston Baptist (Nov. 16), UTSA (Dec. 2) and McMurry (Dec. 17) at home. On the road, UTA visits former Southland Conference rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 13) and North Texas (Dec.21).

STREAMING ON UTAMAVS.COM: All home games are video streamed at utamavs.com/collegesportslive. Subscriptions are available for $9.95 per month & $99.95 per year. Away games will be available in an audio only format with Michael Eldridge doing play-by-play during nonconference games and Josh Sours during Sun Belt play.

TICKETS: Single game and season tickets are available at UTATickets.com & by calling 817-272-9595. Parking is free for all games at College Park Center.

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