CEDAR CITY, Utah - After securing the Western Athletic Conference's three seed, the Southern Utah women's basketball team will tip off against UT Arlington on Thursday, March 12, at 3:30 p.m. for a spot in the semifinal round. After sweeping the Mavericks in the regular season, tomorrow's matchup will mark the fourth and final time the Thunderbirds have faced UTA this year.

Head Coach Tracy Mason said:

"This is our final WAC Tournament, and the team is very excited for one last chance at a championship. It's really tough to beat a strong team like UT Arlington four times, so we'll have to lock in for a full 40 minutes."

Game Details

Who: Southern Utah (19-11, 11-7 WAC) vs UT Arlington (11-20, 5-14 WAC)

When: Thursday, March 12, at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

Watch: ESPN+

Live Stats: HERE

Matchup History

• Between 2004 and 2025, the Thunderbirds compiled an 0-7 record against the Mavericks. However, Southern Utah turned the tide this season and swept UT Arlington in a three-game series.
• In their first matchup on Jan. 3, SUU fended off the Mavericks in a tight 58-55 road win. Junior Ava Uhrich and sophomore Sierra Chambers combined for 37 points.
• On their home court in Cedar City, the Thunderbirds proved more dominant. Despite the game's high intensity, Southern Utah handedly earned a 77-68 win on Jan. 29. Uhrich scored a career-high 30 points on 81.8% shooting from the field.
• SUU finished the series at home with a 78-67 win over the Mavericks on Valentine's Day. Chambers and junior Brooklyn Fely combined to pour in a whopping 40 points.

The Thunderbirds

After being picked last in the WAC's preseason poll, the Thunderbirds have earned an outstanding 11-7 conference record and a 19-11 record overall. By the regular season's close, Southern Utah ranked third in the conference standings and barely missed out on a postseason bye.

SUU closed the regular season as one of the WAC's most high-powered offenses. Averaging 72.3 points per game (third in the WAC) and 15.1 assists per game (second in the WAC), the Thunderbirds have been outstandingly accurate. They currently shoot at a 42.5% rate from the field and a 32.9% rate from deep (both second in the WAC).

Southern Utah's most consistent strength has been their dominance under the glass. With 41.8 boards per game, the Thunderbirds rank first in their conference in rebounding and 17th on a national scale.

Uhrich, who was named to the All-WAC First Team yesterday, has fueled her Southern Utah team. She averages 14.2 points and a WAC-high 9.9 rebounds. She and Fely, who was named to the All-WAC Second Team, have combined for more double-doubles than any entire team in the conference has recorded.

SUU's leading scorer also earned All-WAC Second Team honors. Chambers averages 15.1 points and 3.8 assists at the guard spot, providing a consistent distributor for the Southern Utah offense.

Scouting Report

UT Arlington Mavericks

Excluding their impressive 77-73 postseason win over Utah Tech to make it to the quarterfinal round, UT Arlington has not won a game in regulation since Jan. 17. Holding an 11-20 overall record and a 4-14 WAC record, the Mavericks have had a trying season. Nonetheless, UTA is a relentless team and should not be underestimated.

The Mavericks' offense has sputtered, averaging a WAC-low 60.8 points per game. Their defense, though, averages 4.9 blocks per game (second in the WAC) and 9.2 steals per game (third in the WAC).

One of the WAC's newest superstars, freshman Kira Reynolds, leads the Mavericks in points with 12.6 per game, rebounds with 7.8 per game, and blocks with 2.4 per game. In the play-in game against Utah Tech, she racked up 21 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks.

Tickets

Tickets to the 2026 Air Force Reserve WAC Basketball Tournament are available. They can be purchased online at orleans.boydgaming.com.

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