Guard Cierra Johnson drives to the basket against Georgia State. (1/26/19)
© 2019 Miss Ari Photography
Arlington – The UT Arlington Lady Mavericks never trailed Georgia State Saturday afternoon, earning their 14th win of the season.
Unselfish play and consistent scoring helped the Mavericks to an impressive 69 - 45 victory, keeping the team competitive in the third spot of the Sun Belt Conference.
“This is a great win for our team and maybe a little redemption,” says Coach Krista Gerlich. “I’m really proud of our girls and the way they responded. They did a great job executing our game plan. They shot the ball well and defended exceptionally well.”
Cierra Johnson had another double- double Saturday, scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds. The celebrated guard also had a total of four steals and six assists, making special effort to look for her open teammates.
Getting off to an early lead is always part of Gerlich’s game plan. A steady tempo and effective outside shooting are incredibly important for the Mavericks.
In addition to Johnson’s scoring on seven of 16 shot attempts, guard Claire Chastain added 13 points. In just under 19 minutes off of the UT Arlington bench, Chastain made it to the free throw line six times. Her free throw attempts, of which she made five – were in fact the only free throw attempts for the team on Saturday.
“As a team, I’m really proud of us,” says Claire Chastain. “We played with fire and it made them (Georgia State) frustrated.”
Georgia State’s Madison Earvin posted a game high 16 points, but she didn’t have much help. UT Arlington’s bench outscored Georgia State’s bench 25-2.
Coach Gerlich, Johnson and Chastain were all smiles post-game, as they shared in excitement about how well the team communicated both on and off the court Saturday. Much credit was given to Johnson for controlling the pace and choosing her shots wisely.
“If Cierra (Johnson) doesn’t play well - we don’t win,” added Gerlich.
All season Gerlich has reminded her team that their toughest opponent is their next opponent.
UT Arlington will play Louisiana this Tuesday in Lafayette.
