After falling short of last year’s Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship title, UTA men’s basketball seeks another deep run with a different core. The Mavericks will be one of nine teams vying for an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball Tournament. The single-elimination competition is scheduled to run from March 11 through 15, ending with the crowning of a WAC champion. In UTA men’s basketball’s journey to victory, the team must face a familiar foe in the first round. In 2024, No. 3 UTA lost against No. 1 Grand Canyon University 89-74 in the final championship match. Now, the No. 7 Mavericks will have their chance for redemption against the No. 2 seed Wednesday in Las Vegas. Despite head coach K.T. Turner’s impressive first-season run last year, the Mavericks finished this year’s regular season with a 13-17 overall record and 6-10 in conference play. The 2024-25 WAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll predicted UTA finishing second in the conference, behind GCU. UTA had a sample size of three neutral site games played this season with a 1-2 record. The team, with a 9-4 record, including a four-game win streak, played its best at College Park Center. Graduate forward Lance Ware said larger crowds bring more adrenaline, such as the team’s win against Tarleton State University with over 5,000 fans in attendance. “Wherever we go, whether there’s zero fans or a few thousand fans or 10,000 fans, or whatever the case may be, go out there and just be ready to play,” he said. In the school’s third season in the WAC since the Sun Belt conference, UTA will return to Las Vegas. The city has consecutively hosted the conference’s basketball tournament since 2011. Despite the team’s three-game losing streak heading into the tournament Turner, in his weekly press conference, said he is confident in the team’s talent and connection. “The biggest thing with us is we gotta defend and rebound,” he said. “When we do that, we’re fine. But offensively, I think we’re one of the top teams in the league.” The end of last year’s championship game is still fresh in UTA’s minds. Newcomers like Ware and junior guard Brody Robinson said they want to get the job done for senior guard Brandyn Talbot and sophomore guard Kade Douglas — the only returners from last year’s team. “I know how BT felt. I know how Kade felt,” Ware said. “These guys telling us how they felt just gives everybody else motivation to want to go out and do the right thing and try to win these games.” The Mavericks will take on the Antelopes at 10:30 p.m. CST Wednesday at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+. @babyboimatt sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Despite dropping the opening game, UTA softball (12-9, 2-1) began its Western Athletic Conference season with a 2-1 series win over Utah Tech University (10-14, 1-2) at Allan Saxe Field. Head coach Kara Dill said conference play is always a fresh start and requires constant adjustments. “It's who can out-adjust the other as you're going through the weekend,” Dill said. “It's a new challenge for our team, but a really exciting one.” In the first game of the series Friday, redshirt junior infielder Mallory Stone recorded three outs in the second and third innings, two on bunt attempts. “We try not to give up free bases,” Stone said. “I try to take away all the bunts that I can.” In the fourth inning, the Trailblazers scored two runs, bringing the score to 2-0. The Mavericks consistently hit singles but were unable to bring runners home, leaving seven on base throughout the game. UTU added another run in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore infielder Emma Lopez scored UTA’s lone run in the seventh before the game ended in a 3-1 loss. Junior utility Elizabeth Baylor stood out, going 2-3 at the plate and setting up scoring opportunities the team failed to capitalize. Baylor said it felt good to be there for her team and was happy to contribute in any way she could. UTA softball went on to defeat UTU, 11-3, in the second game of the series. Dill said UTA’s defense in both games was strong enough to compete with UTU’s steady and consistent play. “Having a solid defense, being able to take care of the ball, the routine plays specifically, keeps the crooked numbers off the board, which is really important,” Dill said. The game’s intensity was evident from the start with UTU hitting a home run off the first batter. However, the Mavericks responded with seven runs on three hits. UTU attempted a comeback, scoring two runs in the fourth inning. The Mavericks kept their hot streak, racking up four more runs by the sixth inning. The game ended an inning early, 11-3. Lopez, who covered second base during the game, recorded five of UTA's eight assists. Along with Lopez, Baylor remained consistent, going 1-3 in the batter’s box again. This time, her team responded. UTA softball clenched a 2-1 series win with a 5-0 win Saturday. Sophomore pitcher Abi Gutierrez struck out six in 4.1 innings. The Mavericks scored three runs in the third adding two more in the fifth to secure the shutout. UTA will remain home to face UT San Antonio at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Allan Saxe Field. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA women’s basketball (15-12, 10-6) celebrated Senior Day with an 87-73 victory against California Baptist University (12-18, 9-7) on Saturday at College Park Center. The Lady Mavericks recognized five graduate and senior teammates with an emotional pregame ceremony. Accompanied by family and close friends, head coach Shereka Wright presented the flowers and framed artwork to each player. The Lancers came out of the gates blazing from three, hitting seven of their first 12 3-pointers. However, the Lady Mavericks soared back with dominant paint presence and increased defensive intensity. UTA flipped the game over its head with a 17-1 run in the second quarter, helping the team carry a 45-30 lead by halftime. Wright inserted senior forward Zoe Nelson in the starting lineup, allowing the Lady Mavericks to punish the Lancers in the paint. Nelson’s contribution included a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. “The insertion of Zoe allows Avery [Brittingham] to be able to play her true position at the four and Zoe gives us a rim protector in there,” Wright said. “So, I think that that has been really, really good for us and we can go bigger.” The third quarter was highlighted by a series of high-level plays by fifth-year forward Avery Brittingham. As CBU gained momentum in the quarter, Brittingham was the catalyst of an 8-0 run, capped with a three-point shot, sending the fans and bench into a frenzy. Senior guard Taliyah Clark scored a team-high in the third quarter with nine points, helping UTA maintain the lead throughout the game. Clark said she was proud of the way her teammates responded to recent struggles and their ability to play for one another. “It was really special,” she said. “I think just going in knowing we wanted to win for our seniors, last time playing in the CPC together, it was big.” The Lancers made another move in the fourth quarter that cut the Lady Mavericks’ lead to five. Brittingham helped UTA shut the door on CBU with back-to-back baskets to give her team a 77-68 advantage. Brittingham finished two assists shy of a triple-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Fifth-year forward Koi Love also played dividends in UTA closing the deal, with eight points in the fourth quarter. Love led all scorers with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and added seven assists. With the win, UTA snapped a five-game losing streak heading into the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Las Vegas. Wright said momentum is important, particularly against CBU, who they’ll face in the first round. “I want our kids to understand that we’re just as good as anybody,” Wright said. “Teams gotta see us and so we gotta have that mentality going to Vegas.” The Lady Mavericks now set their sights on the WAC tournament in a CBU rematch 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Orleans Arena. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+. @babyboimatt sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu