Redshirt sophomore guard Amiyah Reynolds attempts a layup during a game against Utah Tech University on Feb. 5 at College Park Center. Reynolds scored 10 points.
A dramatic 84-78 double-overtime win against Utah Tech University (6-15) broke UTA women’s basketball (9-13) out of a three-game losing streak Thursday at College Park Center.
What was supposed to be a regular-season matchup turned into a dog fight between the Western Athletic Conference’s bottom teams. UTA has started to climb the ladder and now sits with Utah Valley University tied for fifth place in the conference, after the team sank to seventh place during the opening stretch of the regular season.
Junior guard Jadyn Atchison, left, and junior center Jeanne Rodriguez cheer after UTA scores during a game against Utah Tech University on Feb. 5 at College Park Center. Atchison scored 16 points.
Confidence was the key to this game. Head coach Shereka Wright said it was one of the team’s best performances since its first preseason tournament, noting the Lady Mavericks’ commitment to compete with confidence and showing faith in their abilities.
Senior guard Nya Threatt goes up for a layup during a game against Utah Tech University on Feb. 5 at College Park Center. Threatt had four rebounds.
Photo by Quinton Knight
“We haven’t seen that in a while, and that happens from time to time in season, especially when you’re dealing with losses and things that are going on,” Wright said. “Down the stretch defensively, we did a really, really good job of getting those stops and understanding the scout there too, so it’s just growth.”
UTA’s first handful of points came from a free throw by senior guard Alexsyah Goudeau and a 3-pointer from redshirt sophomore guard Amiyah Reynolds, halting Utah Tech’s 5-0 opening run.
Utah Tech slipped past UTA, finding the corners and hitting a couple of 3-pointers that kept the Trailblazers ahead before the first break. The lead would be thwarted by the Lady Mavericks’ defense, holding Utah Tech to only nine points – less than half the points scored in the first quarter – as UTA mounted a 33-29 lead going into the half.
Freshman forward Kira Reynolds broke out in stride as the game went on, scoring 18 of her 20 points after the half. The first-year player shot 7-16 in the paint and tallied 15 rebounds and four blocks, adding to her top 10 national ranking for blocks per game.
Kira Reynolds attributed her success to establishing a sense of the game by coming off the bench, which she said enabled her to add to the game and find better opportunities.
Freshman forward Kira Reynolds attempts a layup during a game against Utah Tech University on Feb. 5 at College Park Center. Reynolds scored 20 points.
UTA maintained defensive composure to open the third quarter, allowing just four points in the opening minutes. However, the Lady Mavericks fell into a slump, allowing the Trailblazers to rally and take the lead near the five-minute mark.
The final stretch is when the air thickened in the arena, as both teams began exchanging leads. The last minute of regulation was extended by a challenge from Utah Tech, which was eventually overruled in UTA’s favor.
A deep shot from beyond the arc by junior guard Jadyn Atchison sent UTA into the lead, but a foul by Amiyah Reynolds sent Utah Tech to the free throw line and forced overtime.
Senior guard Alexsyah Goudeau attempts to grab a rebound during a game against Utah Tech University on Feb. 5 at College Park Center. Goudeau had two rebounds.
Atchison followed Kira Reynolds in scoring, putting 16 points on the board to notch her season-high. She added four rebounds and three assists to round out her performance for the day.
“Coach Shereka has always been talking about my confidence and just shooting the ball with confidence and playing with confidence, so that’s really just been helping me contribute to us getting wins,” Atchison said.
The Lady Mavericks withstood the pressure and took control of the game in the second round of overtime, putting up 10 points to the Trailblazers’ four. With foul calls going the team’s way, the losing streak snap was backed by defensive pressure, holding Utah Tech scoreless for the final 40 seconds of the game.
Shereka Wright, UTA women’s basketball head coach, speaks to the team during a game against Utah Tech University on Feb. 5 at College Park Center. The team snapped a three-game losing streak.
“Incredible game tonight, fun game to watch, both teams competing at a high level, going back and forth,” Wright said. “Just really, really proud of the grit, the toughness of my group right now. It has not been an easy way for us right now, but that’s why in the month of February and then in March, things always turn around for you, but we’re taking things one game at a time.”
The team looks to secure its seventh home win of the season and climb the conference standings against Utah Valley University at 1 p.m. Saturday at College Park Center. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
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