The Southern Utah women’s basketball team was eliminated from the Western Athletic Conference Tournament following a 70-65 loss to UT Arlington on Mar. 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Thunderbirds ended their season with a 19-12 overall record and an 11-8 mark in conference play, while the Mavericks improved to a 12-20 overall record and secured their first win against Southern Utah.
The outcome marks the end of Southern Utah’s run in the WAC tournament, despite entering as the third seed after being picked last in the preseason poll. Head Coach Tracy Mason said, “This is obviously not how we wanted our final WAC tournament to go, but I am so incredibly proud of the season these ladies have had. From being picked last in the preseason poll to being the third seed in the conference, we are so proud of everything we’ve accomplished this season.”
Junior Brooklyn Fely led her team with nine rebounds and 13 points in just 18 minutes of play. Ava Uhrich surpassed 300 rebounds for the season, adding five boards and matching Fely’s scoring output with 13 points. Off the bench, senior Ashley Banks contributed ten rebounds while junior Morgan Trigueiro made all three of her attempts from beyond the arc.
The game saw several momentum shifts. After falling behind early, Southern Utah responded with a dramatic 16-0 run fueled by freshman Devyn Kiernan and junior Ava Uhrich. The Thunderbirds held a narrow lead at halftime but struggled offensively at times during the second half. In foul trouble late in the game, Southern Utah lost key players Fely and Kortney Doman to disqualification, allowing UT Arlington to regain control.
Despite clutch shooting from Trigueiro late in the fourth quarter, including two critical three-pointers, Southern Utah could not overcome UTA’s advantage as time expired.
Looking ahead, Mason emphasized pride in her team’s achievements throughout a challenging season that exceeded expectations.
