UTA women’s basketball falls short in home opener against Sacramento State
The UT Arlington women’s basketball team dropped its season opener on Tuesday, falling 67-61 to California State University, Sacramento, at the College Park Center. While the Lady Mavericks showed significant resilience after a difficult second quarter, they were unable to overcome a late deficit in the final minutes of the game. According to reporting from The Shorthorn, this matchup marked the first time these two programs have ever faced one another in women’s basketball.
The loss leaves UTA with an 0-1 record to start the season. The program has struggled to find momentum in season openers recently, having not secured a victory in its first game since the 2022-23 season, when they defeated Texas Woman’s University 81-77 in overtime.
“I was definitely pleased with the energy and the effort of this team,” Wright said. “It’s very, very promising and definitely scary with this group as we continue to put some pieces together.”
A tale of two halves at College Park Center
The game began with UTA finding its rhythm early. Junior guard Nisaa Muhammad secured the team’s first point of the season via a free throw, and fifth-year guard Jalyn Brown provided an immediate offensive spark. Brown, who typically prefers a “get-downhill” style of play, found success from beyond the arc, converting two of her first three-point attempts in the opening 10 minutes. Brown finished the night tied for the team high with 13 points.
However, the momentum shifted sharply in the second quarter. Sacramento State utilized a 9-0 run to build a double-digit lead, eventually stretching that advantage to 14 points with less than three minutes remaining in the half. The Lady Mavericks began a late surge just before the break, led by freshman guard Ava Raymond, who scored five points in the final 61 seconds of the half to narrow the gap to 37-32.
The third quarter saw UTA tighten its defense, keeping the deficit within two possessions for much of the period and under one possession for a significant stretch. The tension peaked midway through the fourth quarter when junior guard Amaya Williams recorded a steal that led to a fast-break layup by Raymond, cutting the score to 57-54. A subsequent exchange of scoring—including a UTA three-pointer and Sacramento State free throws—resulted in a scoreless deadlock for approximately three minutes. By the time the teams resumed scoring with roughly 97 seconds left on the clock, the window for a comeback had effectively closed.
Statistical breakdown of Lady Maverick leaders
The scoring effort was distributed across several key players, though foul trouble proved to be a significant hurdle for the UTA rotation. The following table highlights the primary offensive contributors for the Lady Mavericks during the contest:
| Player | Points Scored | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Journee Hampton | 13 | Two successful 3-point attempts |
| Jalyn Brown | 13 | High efficiency from beyond the arc |
| Chelsea Bishop | 10 | Consistent interior scoring |
| Morane Dossou | N/A | Recorded five rebounds |
| Amiyah Reynolds | N/A | Recorded three rebounds |
Discipline on the defensive end will likely be a focal point for coaching staff moving forward. Several players faced significant foul trouble, with Brown, Muhammad, redshirt junior guard Amiyah Reynolds, and junior forward Faith Carson each accumulating four fouls. Coach Wright attributed the struggle to defensive positioning rather than aggression.
“It’s just more so our players understanding about positioning as they’re defending,” Wright said. “It’s not being so handsy. Moving our feet is going to be a critical thing.”
For Journee Hampton, the challenge lies in evolving as opponents begin to analyze her game. Following her 13-point performance, Hampton acknowledged the inevitability of scouting reports.
“Teams already kind of know how I play,” Hampton said. “There’s a lot of film out there, so they’re gonna study it. So it’s about just being able to counter those actions.”
The Lady Mavericks must now quickly pivot to their next challenge. UTA remains at home this week, scheduled to host Lamar University at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the College Park Center. The matchup represents a steep climb, as the Cardinals were selected to win the Southland Conference title in recent preseason polling.
“I expect them to come in here, play tough,” Wright said. “I expect to see really another good game here on Thursday, and so I expect our players to respond. Like I said before, I’m going to challenge my group, and we just got to be prepared and be ready to go for the tip.”
