by By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ATLANTA – In a reversal of the teams’ previous meeting, it was UT Arlington that used a big third quarter to pull away against Georgia State. The Lady Mavericks earned their third win in the last four games with a 74-45 victory on Saturday at GSU Sports Arena.
The Lady Mavericks (10-11, 5-6 Sun Belt) outscored the Panthers 24-9 in the third to avenge what was a 25-2 advantage for GSU in the Dec. 30 meeting at College Park Center. The win gave UTA coach Krista Gerlich 199 in her career, just one shy of the 200 milestone as the Lady Mavs travel to Texas State on Tuesday to end a five-game road trip.
UTA’s three starting guards were at the helm of an attack that shot 45.5 percent from the field. Amara Wainwright and LaShanda Green (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) each tied for a game high with 16 points. Cierra Johnson added 15 points, tied a career high with six assists and also chipped in with three steals.
After the teams exchanged six 3-pointers to start the game, it was UTA that took command of the half. Johnson led the charge with a pair from beyond the arc and UTA went on an 11-0 run to end the first quarter.
The momentum continued to swing in the Lady Mavs’ favor to start the second. UTA held Georgia State scoreless for more than five minutes as the stretch went to 21-5 in favor of the Lady Mavs. The Panthers defense was finally able to hold back UTA late in the half. The Lady Mavs were scoreless for the final three minutes of the period as GSU closed the game to 37-25 at halftime.
UTA expanded the lead past 30 points with its defense clamping down on the Panthers. GSU shot just 25 percent in the third quarter on 4-of-16 shooting, knocking down its lone 3-pointer of the quarter with 10 seconds left in the third.
Turning point
Leading by 12 coming out of the break, UTA left no doubt in the contest with a 16-2 run to start the third to build the lead up to a game-high 32 points. The Lady Mavs shot 66.7 in the quarter, hitting 10-of-15 from the field, including 3-4 from 3-point range.
Up next
UTA closes out the road trip on Tuesday at Texas State at 1 p.m. The Bobcats have won the last five games and lead the all-time series 38-25.
