Graduate student Denise Rodriguez attempts a shot during a game against The University of Alabama on March 15 at College Park Center. Rodriguez scored two points and had one assist.
UTA women’s wheelchair basketball (8-3) beat The University of Alabama (20-3) 56-54 Sunday at College Park Center.
The game concluded the UTA College Classic tournament, in which UTA finished with a 3-1 record throughout the weekend. The team’s sole loss in the tournament came against Alabama on Saturday.
Junior Quinn Meyer attempts to pass the ball to senior Zoe Voris during a game against The University of Alabama on March 15 at College Park Center. Meyer had three assists.
Junior Harmonee Ruetes attempts a free throw during a game against The University of Alabama on March 15 at College Park Center. Reutes scored 32 points.
The game began with a back-and-forth, with the score tied at 16 after the first quarter, before Alabama outscored UTA 18-5 in the second quarter.
“We were not working for each other to get to the basket,” head coach Morgan Wood said. “We were settling for outside shots, and we really just needed to stick together and run the offense that we run.”
UTA began to come back after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 12-2 run and shortening the deficit to five entering the final frame.
Starting in the middle of the fourth quarter, UTA went on a 12-0 run to take the lead. Alabama tied it back with about 40 seconds left of play. With just 20 seconds left, senior Zoe Voris caught a pass and immediately shot from the free-throw line, knocking down the deciding bucket.
“I truthfully was not paying attention to anything other than getting the ball and putting it up,” Voris said. “I wasn’t really aware of the time or anything. Just had to make it, that’s what I was thinking.”
Senior Zoe Voris dribbles the ball in a game against The University of Alabama on March 15 at College Park Center. Voris scored 16 points.
Including the winning shot, Voris scored 16 points, nearly clinching a triple-double with nine rebounds and 10 assists.
A standout player of the game was junior Harmonee Ruetes, who scored 32 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Lady Movin’ Mavs in both. Her scoring total accounted for over half of UTA’s points in the win.
“I felt like I played at my best today. I was very locked in,” Ruetes said. “From warm-up, I was ready to play.”
Head coach Morgan Wood talks to the team during a time-out during a game against The University of Alabama on March 15 at College Park Center. UTA won 56-54.
The Lady Movin’ Mavs hope to keep the momentum going as they head into the 2026 National Wheelchair Basketball Association Intercollegiate National Championships. The four-team women’s bracket, set for April 2-4 at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, will determine this year’s national champions.
“We really just want to stay disciplined in our game plan. When we run our game plan, we win basketball games, and that’s really where we want to be,” Wood said. “This is a good momentum booster going into nationals, especially at home, and a really, really good welcome to Athletics and College Park.”
@TyRoland06