University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Arlington

Women's Basketball

Candice Champion

Candice Champion

GEORGIA TECH SLIPS BY UT ARLINGTON 63-56

Champion and Martin Earn All-Tournament Team Honors

Dec. 20, 2008

Box Score - UT Arlington vs. Georgia Tech (12-20-08) Get Acrobat Reader

Nassau, Bahamas - The University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks dropped a close 63-56 decision against Georgia Tech at the Bahamas Sunsplash Tournament on Saturday, December 20 at the Issacs Gymnasium.

With the setback, the Mavs dropped their overall record to 4-6 while Georgia Tech improved to 10-2 on the season.

The Mavs opened the first half holding a small lead over Georgia Tech throughout the first 11 minutes of the game until Jacqua Williams scored on a layup to give the Yellow Jackets a 15-14 advantage with 10:56 on the clock.

Georgia Tech maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way, extending out to a 10 point advantage at the 1:10 mark, making the score 32-22. The Mavericks managed to cut the deficit to four point's right before halftime following two free throws and a layup, to make the score 32-26.

UTA finished the first half shooting 45 percent (9-of-20) from the field to Georgia Tech's 43.8 percent (14-of-32). Seniors Candice Champion and Erin Dixon scored 22 of UTA's 26 first half points.

The Mavericks cut the Yellow Jackets lead to two points after a made free throw by Champion but several buckets by Georgia Tech put them up by nine with 9:54 left in the second half.

It went back in forth for the next several minutes with each team connecting on both ends of the floor. UTA would come within three points on two occasions but were unable to make key defensive stops in the final two minutes of the game.

Champion and Shalyn Martin collected all-tournament team honors for the Mavericks in their two game performances. Champion recorded 20 points and eight boards while Martin notched 14 points and seven rebounds.

Williams finished with 20 points while Alex Montgomery collected 16 points for the Yellow Jackets.

For the game, UTA shot 43.5 percent (20-of-46) from the field, a season low 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from three-point range and 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the charity stripe.

The Mavericks will have several days off before heading to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the Tulsa Classic where UTA meets host Tulsa University in the first round on Monday, December 29, with game time set for 7 p.m.