CEDAR CITY, Utah - Following a comeback win on the first day of Western Athletic Conference play, the Southern Utah women's basketball team will turn its attention to Saturday's matchup with UT Arlington. The 9-4 Thunderbirds and the 6-8 Mavericks will tip off at 1:00 p.m. in the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Head Coach Tracy Mason said:

"We're excited for our first WAC roadtrip. UTA is a very strong team with a ton of size. This conference is full of really good teams, and UTA is definitely one of them. We'll need to be locked in as we prepare and bring a ton of energy to the court."

Game Details

Who: Southern Utah (9-4, 1-0 WAC) vs UT Arlington (6-8, 0-2 WAC)

When: Saturday, January 3, at 1:00 p.m.

Where: College Park Center, Arlington, Texas

Watch: ESPN+

Live Stats: HERE

Matchup History

• Currently holding a 0-7 all-time record against UT Arlington, Southern Utah will look to pick up its first win against the Mavericks on Saturday. In their last matchup, which ended 62-58, defense proved to be the most significant factor.

The Thunderbirds

SUU earned its first win in WAC play on Monday, extending to a 1-0 start in the conference and a 9-4 overall record. 

Southern Utah sits at the top of the WAC offensively, posting a conference-high 78.5 points per game. Their accuracy has played a significant factor in this success, ranking second in the conference from the field at 42.9%, second from the three-point line at 33.9%, and first from the charity stripe at 73.5%. The Thunderbirds also record a WAC-leading average of 15.9 assists per game, making them second in the conference.

Their defensive effort has been a little less flashy, but still an essential part of their team's success. They hold their opponents to a solid 65 points per game and restrict opposing field goal percentage to 37.4%, which ranks second in the WAC. 

Most impressively, they lead the conference in rebounds per game with 44 and have an outstanding +11 margin at the glass. In their Monday matchup, they outrebounded Utah Tech 56-31.

Of the top three rebounders in the conference, two are Thunderbirds. Juniors Ava Uhrich and Brooklyn Fely average nine and 8.6 rebounds per game, respectively, and each has five double-doubles this season.

Sophomore star Sierra Chambers has also been an excellent piece of Southern Utah's team. She ranks second in the conference with 15.7 points per game. Her 89.9% accuracy from the free-throw line this year ranks first in the WAC, 17th in the nation, and second in SUU women's basketball history.

Scouting Report

UT Arlington Mavericks

The 6-8 Mavericks have gotten off to a rocky start in conference play, dropping both their Monday and Thursday games to start 0-2 in the WAC. They will be hungry for a win in their third game of the week against Southern Utah.

UTA has struggled in its 2025-2026 campaign so far, ranking last in the WAC offensively and second-to-last defensively. However, they have been fantastic from the perimeter on both sides of the ball. They shoot a conference-high 34.3% from the three-point line and hold opposing teams to a conference-low 23.8%.

Freshman Kira Reynolds is the Mavericks' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 12 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She could pose a serious issue for the Thunderbirds in the paint, ranking first in the WAC in blocked shots with 2.9 per game.

Tickets

Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com.

Follow Us

For all the latest on Southern Utah women's basketball, follow @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Women's Basketball Facebook page.

Donate

To help support Thunderbirds athletics, consider making a donation today! To learn more about how you can support, click here.