WALLACE NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Junior guard Terra Wallace, the first player to lead the Southland Conference in scoring (19.1) and assists (5.0), was named SLC Player of the Year in women’s basketball. She also led the conference in three-pointers made per game (2.24) and set a UT Arlington single-season points record with 553. Sophomore Maryann Abanobi, who averaged 10.1 points and 3.0 rebounds, made third-team all-SLC and was named the conference’s Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year.

WOMEN BARELY MISS SECOND NCAA TRIP. The women’s basketball team fell short of reaching a second straight NCAA Tournament, losing, 76-75, in triple overtime to UT San Antonio in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament. In the regular season, coach Donna Capps’ club finished second to eventual conference tournament champ Stephen F. Austin. The Mavericks compiled a 20-9 record and led the nation in defense, allowing 51.6 points per game.

MEN EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS. Seniors Jarrett Howell and Steven Thomas were named to the second-team all-Southland Conference men’s basketball squad. Howell led the Mavericks in scoring with 14.2 points per game. Thomas led the team in rebounding with 8.0 per game and averaged 13.2 points. The Mavericks lost in the opening round of the SLC Tournament, dropping an 86-84 overtime decision to Southeastern Louisiana. Senior point guard Brady Dawkins was named to the SLC all-academic first team.
 
ATHLETES AND SCHOLARS. Senior cross country standout Ivorita Taylor, the Southland Conference Women’s Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year, led a group of 16 athletes named to the SLC fall academic honor roll. The honor roll recognizes student-athletes who earn at least a 3.0 grade-point average and take a minimum of 12 hours. Almost half of all student-athletes made the UT Arlington academic honor roll, and six of the 10 athletics teams have a cumulative GPA greater than a 3.0. The men’s tennis team had 86 percent (six of seven players) of its roster named to the honor roll, while the women’s tennis ranked second at 67 percent (four of six).

KINESIOLOGY PROF TRAINS BOBSLEDDERS. Assistant Professor Cindy Trowbridge served as the athletic trainer for the U.S. women’s bobsled team in the World Cup Races, Dec. 9-18 in Igls, Austria, and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, prior to the Torino Olympic Winter Games in February. Dr. Trowbridge, who also is the clinical education coordinator for the Kinesiology Department’s Athletic Training Education Program, was responsible for the medical care of 10 women and the coaching staff. Training took place in Cesana, Italy, the week prior to the World Cup competition.

TRACKSTER EARNS CONFERENCE INDOOR HONOR. After breaking two meet records and tying for high-point honors in the men’s division, Jared Connaughton was named the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year. The junior from Canada finished with 18 points, winning the 200-meter dash and placing second in the 60-meter dash, establishing meet records in both events. His record in the 60 came in the semifinals. UT Arlington finished fourth in the men’s competition and sixth in the women’s division. Individually, the Mavericks had three men and three women win conference championships. Shay Collett won the title in the pole vault and Quinchun Carey in the long jump, joining Connaughton as winners in the men’s division. Ivorita Taylor, Ellen Garrison and Lacey Moore won in the 800 meters, 60-meter dash and pole vault, respectively.

MEN WIN TENNIS TITLE. The men’s tennis team defeated UT San Antonio, 4-2, in the championship match of the Southland Conference Tournament in April at the UTA Tennis Center. Senior Niels Buksik was named first-team all-Southland Conference. The women lost in the finals to Southeastern Louisiana. Junior Monika Peciulionyte was a first-team all-conference selection in singles and doubles.