Monroe, La. - UT Arlington closed overtime on a 9-3 run to hold off ULM 60-56 on Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

The Mavericks (20-6 overall, 12-3 Sun Belt Conference) took over first place in the conference by a half-game over Little Rock with the win. But ULM (8-17, 2-12) didn't make it easy on UTA.

"Incredible effort on the defensive end, certainly can't fault that," head coach Jeff Dow said.

UTA entered the game as the top shooting and 3-point shooting team in the conference. ULM held the Mavericks nearly 10 points off of their season field goal percentage at 36.4 percent, and limited the Mavericks to 2-of-10 3-point shooting. UTA entered the game shooting nearly 42 percent from 3 in Sun Belt Conference games.

"A team that is averaging 73 points a game, shooting 42 percent from 3, at the end of regulation they have 51 points," Dow said. "You held them 22 points below their average, obviously well below their typical 3-point percentage going 2-of-10. Did a really good job of getting out on the arc, taking that away."

However, ULM came up short in two key areas according to Dow.

"At the end of regulation, we're minus 15 on the boards, we end up minus 18," Dow said. "And then the free throw line. At the end of regulation we're 9-of-17 from the free throw line, whereas they're 15-of-20. Different game if you make one more free throw."

UTA started strong, building a seven point first quarter lead at 14-7. However, ULM scored the last three points of the first quarter and the first four points of the second quarter to tie the game at 14 on a layup by Amber Thompson. Trailing 18-16, ULM went on a 6-0 run to grab the lead on a layup by Arsula Clark and went up 22-18 on a layup by Lauren Fitch. Late in the second quarter, Whitney Goins drained a 3-pointer with the shot clock expiring as the Warhawks took a 27-26 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Out of halftime, the lead changed hands seven times in the third quarter. UTA used a mini 5-0 run midway through the quarter to take the lead on two free throws by Daiane Machado and added to it with a 3-pointer by Terryn Milton to lead 39-35. ULM tied the game at 40 on a layup by Jamie Means, but UTA pushed back in front and led 44-42 at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, UTA claimed a four-point lead at 49-45, but Goins knocked down her fourth trey of the game and Sheniqua Coatney added a free throw to tie things up at 49 with 2:45 remaining. Fitch gave ULM the lead with a layup with 1:09 to play, but Claire Chastain converted a layup at the other end with 32 seconds left to tie the game at 51.

ULM had the final possession of regulation, but was unable to get a shot off, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, Arsula Clark's steal and breakaway layup gave ULM a 53-51 lead with 3:58 left. After UTA scored four straight points, two free throws from Lauren Fitch tied the game at 55 with 51 seconds left. However, UTA scored five of the final six points of overtime to take the 60-56 win.

"Proud of the kids," Dow said. "As we told them, 'It's discouraging, it's depressing, it's heartbreaking, it's all those things, but you just went tooth and nail with a quality opponent.' They just won their 20th game and it isn't even March yet, so that speaks volumes about how good they are as well."

Clark led ULM with 16 points, while Fitch and Goins tallied 14 each. For Goins, the effort matches her career-high as finished 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. Claire Chastain notched her first double-double for UTA with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Cierra Johnson also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Warhawks go on the road for the final time this season as they visit the Carolinas, starting with Appalachian State on Thursday. Links to live video, audio and stats are available at ULMWarhawks.com.