On Thursday, Feb. 1, the Southern Utah University women’s basketball team was defeated at the University of Texas at Arlington 85-59. The Thunderbirds fall to 5-14 overall and 3-7 in the Western Athletic Conference. After starting the season 1-8, the Mavericks have improved their record to 10-10 overall and 6-4 in the conference.
Daylani Ballena joined Southern Utah’s 1,000-point club, becoming the 15th women’s basketball player to do so.
First quarter
The Thunderbirds started the game with a 12-4 run behind stellar defense and solid finishing inside the paint. Southern Utah locked up the Mavericks by forcing five turnovers and holding them to just 2/6 from the floor during the game’s first seven minutes.
Avery Brittingham got the Mavericks rolling by scoring six points. She was able to force both Ava Uhrich and Ashley Banks into early foul trouble.
The Thunderbirds used their early run to capture a 14-12 lead heading into the second.
Second quarter
It was all UTA as they shot a blistering 58% from the floor. Two three-pointers by Southern Utah’s Samantha Johnston kept them in it for the majority of the quarter. UT Arlington’s junior guard Taliyah Clark provided a spark with nine points and a steal.
The Mavericks outscored SUU 13-4 in the last five minutes to lead 37-28 at the break.
Third quarter
The Thunderbirds shot just 5/19 from the floor, their worst shooting quarter of the game. UT Arlington took advantage of the missed shots, leading by as many as 20 points before Ballena hit a couple shots to keep SUU within 16.
The Mavericks recorded five second chance points, helping them lead 58-42.
Fourth quarter
Southern Utah was unable to find any rhythm offensively after the first quarter. This continued in the fourth quarter as they shot less than 30% from the floor. UT Arlington’s bench had 15 points in the period with seven coming from Kali Haizlip.
The Thunderbirds were outscored by 10, and the Mavericks took the win.
Key Maverick statistics
— Brittingham tallied her WAC-leading seventh double-double on the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
— Clark drilled 4/6 three-pointers and was 7/11 from the floor with a team-leading 18 points.
— The team totaled 20 fast break points to SUU’s five.
— They outrebounded the Thunderbirds 40-28.
— Gia Adams recorded a season-high eight assists to go along with 14 points and five rebounds.
Key Thunderbird statistics
— Johnston tallied 16 points and five rebounds on 5/12 shooting.
— As a team, SUU shot just 39% from the floor and 17% from the three-point line.
— Ballena was 5/16 from the floor with five assists and five rebounds.
— Alexa Lord continues to improve. She scored eight points and added five rebounds with three assists.
What’s next?
The Thunderbirds will head to Edinburg for a matchup with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. UTRGV enters the matchup with an overall record of 4-15 and a 3-7 WAC record. The game can be streamed through ESPN+.
Author: Brig Pyfer
Photographer: Anden Garfield
Editor: Anden Garfield
sports@suunews.net
