University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Host Disruptive Golden Eagles Team
1/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DENTON — When the North Texas women's basketball team last hosted Southern Miss, the Mean Green won on a game winning shot by 2016 graduate Acheil Tac.
Thursday, North Texas should expect a motivated high-tempo Golden Eagles team that scores a lot of points off turnovers. The opening tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and will be live streamed on BeInSportsConnect.tv and on the radio at KNTU 88.1 FM. The game will also be played again on television at 9:00 p.m. CT on BeIN Sports.
Since the start of the conference schedule, North Texas has been one of the top defensive teams. The Mean Green have executed game plans by attacking opposing team's weakness and limiting the other team's top scorers. Over its last five games, North Texas has held opponents to 60.4 points per game — the third best in C-USA — and they are the best at defending the 3-point shot.
Southern Miss on the other hand has been one of the best offensive teams in conference. While the Golden Eagles have given up an average of 71 points per conference game — the most in C-USA — they've combated that and won three of their last four by forcing turnovers and playing the game at their pace.
LAST GAME
North Texas lost 51-49 to Rice on Saturday. A third quarter 14-2 run by the Owls quickly evaporated a double-digit lead the Mean Green had built up. North Texas had an opportunity to win the game on a Terriell Bradley 3-point attempt, but came up just short at the buzzer.
SCORING THREAT
Sophomore Terriell Bradley has averaged 15.2 points per game over the last five games. 29 of her 76 points during that stretch have come at the free throw line. She's made 71 free throws this season and is on pace to finish the year as the program's single-season free throw record holder. Her 81 percent free throw percentage is fourth best in C-USA. Bradley, who scored a total of 204 points her freshman season at Kansas, finished Saturday's game against Rice with 205 points for the year.
SECOND QUARTER DEFENSE
North Texas' last two opponents have scored a combined nine points in the second quarter of the games. Rice scored just five points in the second quarter versus the Mean Green while Middle Tennessee only mustered four points in the quarter. The two-second quarters are the fewest points opposing teams have scored on North Texas in a quarter all season.
OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS
North Texas has dominated the offensive glass the last five games. They grab an offensive rebound 36 percent of the time a shot goes up. In conference play, they've averaged 15.2 offensive rebounds per game. Leading the charge on the offensive rebound end have been Terra Ellison and Madi Townley. The two have combined to grab 24 of the team's 69 offensive rebounds in conference play.
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
North Texas Southern Miss
5-11 (2-3 C-USA) 11-6 (3-2 C-USA)
T-5th in C-USA 3rd in C-USA
59.7 PPG 70.1 PPG
31.7 RPG 37.2 RPG
8.6 APG 15.8 APG
TEAM LEADERS
North Texas Southern Miss
PTS: Bradley (12.8) PTS: Dinkins (17.8)
REB: Ellison (5.8) REB: King (7.7)
AST: Criner (3.4) AST: Dinkins (4.17)
KEY MATCHUP
North Texas is taking on the defending Conference USA Co-Player of the Week in Southern Miss' guard Brittanny Dinkins. The team's leading scorer dropped a career-high 32 points against Old Dominion and had a 25-point outing in their next game against Charlotte. She was also big on the defensive end. She had 16 steals over the two games. Dinkins will be their primary scorer and is a disruptive force on defense when pressing.
SCOUTING REPORT
Southern Miss has won most of its game by controlling the pace and disrupting the opposing team's pace by forcing turnovers with pressure defense. If the Mean Green can play the game at their pace they should do well around the paint and in the post. Southern Miss' primary players are 6 feet and shorter. Furthermore, they're starting lineup might not feature a player taller than 5-foot-11.
