SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS UT Arlington enters Friday’s contest with a 5-1 overall record after dropping its first contest of the season, a 71-41 decision to Utah on Monday.
The Mavericks shoot 41.8 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from beyond the arc, leading to 61.0 points per game. Conversely, UTA allows opponents to shoot 35.8 percent from the field and only 21.3 percent from deep, to hold opponents to 57.0 points per game.
The Mavs have a pair of players who average double figures in scoring. Crystal Allen leads the squad with 14.5 points per night, while Rebekah VanDijk ranks second with 10.8 points per contest.
VanDijk also paces UT Arlington on the glass, collecting 7.5 rebounds per game.
TOP PERFORMERS Houston: Sophomore Jasmyne Harris paced the Cougars on offense with 16 points, along with five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Serithia Hawkins added 14 points of her own, while tying Dorian Branch with a team-high six rebounds, and Angela Harris added 12 points and four boards.
UT Arlington: UT Arlington saw just one player reach double figures in scoring after Rebekah VanDijk’s 11-point, 12-rebound double-double. Jennifer Parker led all rebounders on the night with 14 boards.
NEWS AND NOTES
Houston won its fourth consecutive game for the first time since Nov. 23-30, 2012. The Cougars wrapped their month-long, season opening road trip with a 6-2 record, including a 3-2 mark in true road games and a 3-0 record at neutral sites. The 8-game, away-from-home trip is the longest that Houston has ever had to start a season, and the longest such streak overall since playing nine games away from home in 2004-05. Houston has come from behind when trailing by more than 10 points in four of its six wins this season. The Cougars trailed by 14 with 1:35 remaining in the first half against UTA, and came back from deficits of 14, 12 and 12 against Milwaukee, Liberty and Northeastern, respectively. With her 3-point basket in the second half, sophomore Angela Harris moved into a tie for 16th on the all-time 3-pointers made list. Harris’ 71 3-pointers made matches Nicole Oliver who had 71 from 2000-04. Junior Serithia Hawkins pulled down six rebounds in the game, giving her 530 in her career. Hawkins moved past Voccia Calhoun (526; 1988-92) for 16th on the all-time rebounding list. Hawkins’ four defensive rebounds gives her 328 in her career, moving her past Yasmeen Thompson 326; 2011-14) for 13th on the defensive rebound list, and her two offensive boards moved her to 13th on the offensive list, passing Brittany Mason (201: 2007-11). The Cougars forced 26 UT Arlington turnovers in the game and came away with 16 steals. Houston entered first in the American Athletic Conference in turnovers forced per game (24.57) and steals (94), while ranking 10th and 11th in the nation, respectively. Houston outscored UTA 28-24 in the paint and 28-15 off turnovers. The Cougars pulled down 12 offensive rebounds, leading to an 11-8 advantage on second chance points, and dominated the fast-break point category 14-4. Houston’s 6-2 record means the Cougars are off to their best start since the 2010-11 squad opened the season 8-1. With the win, Houston improved to 10-0 all-time against UT Arlington, while Hughey improved to 1-0.
Will be interesting to see how we do at home against Tech…If Hughey could recruit the bigs who come out of H-Town we would probably be a top 10 team. But his teams are far too guard oriented to be competitive against top teams…at least that has been the case so far…
