A Starr Is Born: Meet March Madness’s Breakout Player
Starr Jacobs will lead the UT Arlington Lady Mavericks against the 3-seed Iowa State Cyclones.
Some people are just born with the perfect name, something that captures their spirit entirely. They don’t need a nickname; they don’t even really need an introduction. Before they even walk in the room, everybody understands what they’re all about.
Starr Jacobs has one of those names.
You probably have never heard of the UT Arlington forward, but tune in to one of the latest games of the women’s March Madness tournament later today, and I guarantee you won’t forget it very soon. At 10 p.m. EST tonight, the 14-seed UT Arlington Lady Mavericks face 3-seed Iowa State on the Cyclones’ home court. You can watch it on ESPNU. And if it goes anything like the rest of the season has, you’ll go to bed talking about March Madness’s newest star.
Jacobs has nearly singlehandedly earned the Lady Mavs their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007, with a chance to earn the first tournament win in school history. If they do upset Iowa State, they’ll do so thanks to Jacobs, who just might be the best scorer in college basketball.
Consider these stats: Jacobs has recorded double-digit points in every single game this year; she’s averaging a school record 22.7 points a game with an added 6.2 rebounds. She plays best in the biggest moments, like last week’s conference championship game where the underdog Mavs were bolstered by her 28 point, 11 rebound effort. Earlier this season against Arkansas-Little Rock, the Lady Mavs were down two late in the game. Jacobs led a rally that included six clutch points to win, ultimately, by 11. “She’s the type of player that will do anything to win the game,” senior guard Terryn Milton told UT Arlington’s student paper. “Anytime we need a bucket, we go to Starr.”
How did a player with Jacobs’ talent wind up at a school with Cinderella potential? She was a star in high school, winning two state championships for Texas powerhouse Duncanville (always clutch, she notched a double-double in the 2017 game), and committed to play at the University of Houston. But she never saw the floor as a freshman. Believing that all she needed was a chance to shine, Jacobs transferred to Temple College. She bet on herself. For two years, she starred for the Leopards, becoming the second leading scorer in the country at the junior college level.
Then, Jacobs assessed her division 1 options. Shereka Wright coaches the Lady Mavs, and she played three years in the WNBA. Jacobs wanted to follow in her footsteps. “I wanted to pick this school to make a name for myself,” Jacobs said.
Tonight could be the night that everybody across the country gets to know that name.
After all, it’s a name fit for a star.
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