Feb. 21, 2009

Conway, Ark. - The UT Arlington women's basketball team got back on track with the help of four double-digit scoring performances including a career-high 25 points and 22 rebounds by senior Candice Champion in a 98-69 victory against Central Arkansas on Saturday, February 21 in Conway, Ark.

With the win, UTA improved to 16-9 overall and 10-2 in conference action while the Sugar Bears fell to 6-19 on the season and 2-10 in league play.

Despite 51 points in the first half by UT Arlington, Carnisha Bolden kept the Sugar Bears in striking distance with 18 first half points, all of her points coming from behind the arc.

UTA headed into the locker rooms with a 51-39 halftime advantage over Central Arkansas.

The Mavericks finished shooting 52.9 percent from the field compared to UCA's 42.4 percent and out-rebounded the Sugar Bears 26-11 in the first half.

UT Arlington continued to pour on the points, leading by as many as 30 at 83-53 with 8:15 left in the game. The Mavericks maintained a 25-plus lead over the Sugar Bears the rest of the game.

Champion went 12-of-18 from the field including 1-of-2 from the charity stripe and brought down a career-high 22 boards while Tamara Simmons connected on 20 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field including 3-of-7 from behind the arc, 5-of-6 from the free throw line and dished out seven assists.

Junior Meghan Nelson collected 15 points while senior Erin Dixon added 14 and Shalyn Martin scored 10 points.

Central Arkansas's Bolden finished with a career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field including 8-of-9 from the free throw line.

For the game, UT Arlington shot 52.1 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line. The Mavericks recorded 56 points in the paint to UCA's 18 and out-rebounded the Sugar Bears by a 55-28 margin.

UT Arlington returns to the confines of Texas Hall when it hosts Lamar University on Wednesday, February 25 at 7 p.m.