by By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas – Something about facing Texas State agrees with Rebekah VanDijk. The sophomore center erupted with a career-high 33 points to help UT Arlington over Texas State 78-69 Tuesday at College Park Center and complete the season sweep of its in-state rival.
VanDijk’s performance bested the 26 she put up against the Bobcats in the Feb. 9 meeting and was tied for the second-highest scoring output of the season in the Sun Belt. With the win, UTA (14-14, 9-9 SBC) pulled within one game of South Alabama and Troy, which sat idle in fourth at 10-8. The Lady Mavs close their season with home games Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
Amara Wainwright and LaShanda Green (Choctaw Nation) joined VanDijk in double digits. Wainwright scored 12 on 4-10 shooting, while Green was 7-8 at the line to help her to 10 points.
Similarly to the matchup in San Marcos, UT Arlington opened the game with a strong first quarter. The Lady Mavs shot at a 50-percent clip from the floor to build up a 19-11 lead after the first. Lauren Billie (Creek/Seminole), starting in her second consecutive game, helped lead UTA as she knocked down three treys in the half for an early nine points. The Lady Mavs had seven 3-pointers in the first half.
VanDijk picked up the offense from there, as UTA was unsuccessful on its four long-range attempts in the second half. The sophomore was a perfect 9-9 in the second half from the floor and knocked down 26 of her points.
Up next
UTA continues through the final week of the season with a pair of games against Alabama schools. The Lady Mavs host South Alabama on Thursday and Troy on Saturday.
I truly have enjoy reading your article on my granddaughter, Lauren Billie…THANK YOU THANK YOU… for such good work. but one correction, both of Lauren’s’ maternal grandparents are “Choctaws”, if you can put that into your next article along with the Creek/Seminole…looking forward to seeing that part of her tribe mention. Thanks!