Monday, November 12, 2007 , Updated
UNT women’s basketball loses two of three at Winthrop Classic
Winthrop 77, UNT 53
Winthrop used a red-hot second half to pull away from the North Texas women’s basketball team 77-56 in the opening game of the Winthrop Classic. Winthrop, trailing 41-38 with 12:22 remaining in the game, went on a 13-0 run over the next three minutes and the Mean Green never recovered.
“It was a little bit disappointing that we let them go on that run but we have to be stronger if we are going to win games like this,” said head coach Tina Slinker.
A back and forth game quickly turned ugly for North Texas after making a 9-0 run to behind the second half and take a 35-31 lead.
The Mean Green however could not hold that lead and was held to just 10 points over the next 11 minutes and Winthrop seized control. When the run ended for Winthrop the lead was 75-49 with just over four minutes to play in the game.
Three players scored in double figures for North Texas led by Jo Hall’s 15 points. Brittney James scored 11 points and had three 3-pointers while Amber Jackson poured in 10 points.
Rice 69, UNT 65
Mistakes down the stretch doomed the North Texas (0-2) women’s basketball team as they fell to the Rice Owls 69-65 at the Winthrop Adidas Classic. North Texas had 27 turnovers in the game and made three crucial mistakes in the final minute of play to let Rice escape with the win.
“We have to get better play from our point guard position and we can’t afford to make those kinds of mistakes late in the game,” said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker. “I was really pleased with the way that Erica Howard stepped up in the second half but we just need to learn how to close out these games”.
In a game that mirrored its season opener against Winthrop the night before, North Texas was down at the half 39-37. Strong play from junior Jo Hall once again kept the Mean Green close in the first half as she had 12 of her 16 points in the opening half. The Owls (2-0) extended their lead to 50-42 in the second half with 16:36 remaining when North Texas had its push.
Erica Howard scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half fueled the Mean Green’s rally. It was a 13-2 run that made it 55-52 North Texas with 10 minutes remaining. The Mean Green pushed the lead to 63-57 with eight minutes left but that is when Rice made its comeback.
Two baskets by Valeriya Berezhynska capped off an 8-0 run by Rice to regain the lead for the Owls at 65-63. North Texas tied it back up at 65-65 on a jumper by Howard with 2:12 remaining. Free throws by Rice and the Mean Green’s mistakes
though were the difference in the final two minutes.
UNT 56, Navy 45
The duo of Brittney James and Amber Jackson led the North Texas women’s basketball team to a second half rally and a 56-45 victory over Navy in the final game of the Winthrop Classic. James scored 14 second half points while Jackson poured in 10 points in the second half. Jackson was named to the all-tournament team as she scored 38 points in the three games
“I was really pleased with our effort and intensity in the second half,” said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker. “They didn’t have an answer for Amber in the second half and we were able to keep our defensive pressure up and force them into some mistakes”.
Trailing 27-21 at the break, North Texas (1-2) opened the second half with a 16-4 run and led by seven at 38-31. Navy (0-3) fought back and got as close as three points at 40-37 with 10 minutes remaining.
North Texas this time did not let up and responded with a 10-2 run to make it a double digit lead at 50-39 with four minutes left.
James and Jackson both finished with a game-high 16 points and Tricia Lee chipped in 11 points off the bench. North Texas forced 26 Navy turnovers in the game that resulted in nine points for the Mean Green.
The win is the first of the season for North Texas and marks the first time since February 8, 2006 that the Mean Green has rallied from a halftime deficit to win.
North Texas is back in action on Thursday when they visit Sam Houston State at 6:30 p.m.
Source: UNT
