University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
UNT Set For Road Opener In California
11/25/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The North Texas women's basketball hits the road for the first time this year and will take on CSU Bakersfield on Tuesday at 7 p.m., at the Icardo Center.
About the Mean Green (2-2, 0-0 C-USA)
UNT cruised to a victory over Xavier University of Louisiana on Thursday night, tying a program record set just a week prior by allowing just 31 points in its 68-31 victory. The Mean Green were led by senior post Anisha George, who posted her third double-double in four games this season with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman forward Destinee McDowell had 11 points and nine rebounds. The Mean Green held Xavier to just 24.5% shooting from the field. The Mean Green are scoring 60.8 points per game, while allowing just 47.8.
About the Roadrunners (2-3, 0-0 WAC)
CSU Bakersfield has dropped three of its last four games, including a 65-60 loss to Wright State last Tuesday, as the Roadrunners enter this game with a week of rest under their belts. The Roadrunners have two players averaging double-digit points early in the season in Jayden Eggleston (11.4 points per game) and Ashley Austin (11.2). They are averaging 67 points per game as a team while allowing 75 per game.
Going for five
In her fifth season at the helm of her alma mater, head coach Jalie Mitchell, who is UNT's all-time leading scorer, has seen her teams improve their win totals in each of her four past seasons, culminating with last year's 18-win campaign that saw UNT make it to the final of the WBI postseason tournament, collecting the first postseason wins in program history along the way.
By George!
Post Anisha George, the team's lone senior, is off to a hot start and has produced three double-doubles in four games. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands, native is averaging 14.3 points and 15.0 rebounds per game and is the nation's leading rebounder by a razor-thin margin. Her 26 rebounds in the season opener against Mid-America Christian is still the single-game high by a player nationally this year. George's prowess on the offensive glass has helped the Mean Green become the nation's third-best offensive rebounding team to date, averaging 20.8 offensive boards per game.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) showed remarkable consistency through two games of her college career. The 5-foot-11 forward scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds in each of her first two college games, while also nabbing a game-high five steals in a win over Alcorn State. Through four games, McDowell is averaging 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game – second on the team behind George in both categories. She is also averaging four steals per game.
Feelin' fresh
The Mean Green will rely on a talented group of freshmen that earned the rating of the best recruiting class in Conference USA during last year's signing period. Point guards N'Yah Boyd (Mesquite, Texas) and Jazion Jackson (Dallas), along with guard Randi Thompson (Plano, Texas) and forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) will all be significant contributors.
Jackson leading team in minutes
As one member of UNT's heralded freshman class, point guard Jazion Jackson (Dallas) has been a marathon woman through the first three games of her collegiate career. She is averaging a team-high 30.0 minutes per game and is the only player on the roster to average at least 30. Jackson is also the team leader in assists and is tied for second second in steals.
A call for depth
Last season, two players (Terriell Bradley and Anisha George) accounted for 39% of the team's points, but this year, Mitchell hopes to leave opponents with much more doubt as to who might be scoring for the Mean Green. In a win over Alcorn State last week, the Mean Green had two players (George and McDowell) finish in double figures, while two other players scored eight apiece (Summer Jones and Callie Owens). So far this season, George and freshman forward Destinee McDowell have accounted for 44% of the Mean Green's points.
Put it on lockdown
Jalie Mitchell's teams have always been regarded for their defense, and that won't change this season. What will change is the pace at which the Mean Green play. Showing more pressure defense than in past seasons, thanks to a change in philosophy and some new assistant coaches. Two weeks ago in a win over Alcorn State, UNT's defense set a program record as it allowed just 31 points to the Lady Braves. The Mean Green then tied the mark this past week with the win over Xavier (La.). The previous low in a game was when UNT allowed 33 points in a win at New Orleans on Jan. 5, 2006. Through four games, the Mean Green are allowing 47.8 points per game.
About the Mean Green (2-2, 0-0 C-USA)
UNT cruised to a victory over Xavier University of Louisiana on Thursday night, tying a program record set just a week prior by allowing just 31 points in its 68-31 victory. The Mean Green were led by senior post Anisha George, who posted her third double-double in four games this season with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman forward Destinee McDowell had 11 points and nine rebounds. The Mean Green held Xavier to just 24.5% shooting from the field. The Mean Green are scoring 60.8 points per game, while allowing just 47.8.
About the Roadrunners (2-3, 0-0 WAC)
CSU Bakersfield has dropped three of its last four games, including a 65-60 loss to Wright State last Tuesday, as the Roadrunners enter this game with a week of rest under their belts. The Roadrunners have two players averaging double-digit points early in the season in Jayden Eggleston (11.4 points per game) and Ashley Austin (11.2). They are averaging 67 points per game as a team while allowing 75 per game.
Going for five
In her fifth season at the helm of her alma mater, head coach Jalie Mitchell, who is UNT's all-time leading scorer, has seen her teams improve their win totals in each of her four past seasons, culminating with last year's 18-win campaign that saw UNT make it to the final of the WBI postseason tournament, collecting the first postseason wins in program history along the way.
By George!
Post Anisha George, the team's lone senior, is off to a hot start and has produced three double-doubles in four games. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands, native is averaging 14.3 points and 15.0 rebounds per game and is the nation's leading rebounder by a razor-thin margin. Her 26 rebounds in the season opener against Mid-America Christian is still the single-game high by a player nationally this year. George's prowess on the offensive glass has helped the Mean Green become the nation's third-best offensive rebounding team to date, averaging 20.8 offensive boards per game.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) showed remarkable consistency through two games of her college career. The 5-foot-11 forward scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds in each of her first two college games, while also nabbing a game-high five steals in a win over Alcorn State. Through four games, McDowell is averaging 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game – second on the team behind George in both categories. She is also averaging four steals per game.
Feelin' fresh
The Mean Green will rely on a talented group of freshmen that earned the rating of the best recruiting class in Conference USA during last year's signing period. Point guards N'Yah Boyd (Mesquite, Texas) and Jazion Jackson (Dallas), along with guard Randi Thompson (Plano, Texas) and forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) will all be significant contributors.
Jackson leading team in minutes
As one member of UNT's heralded freshman class, point guard Jazion Jackson (Dallas) has been a marathon woman through the first three games of her collegiate career. She is averaging a team-high 30.0 minutes per game and is the only player on the roster to average at least 30. Jackson is also the team leader in assists and is tied for second second in steals.
A call for depth
Last season, two players (Terriell Bradley and Anisha George) accounted for 39% of the team's points, but this year, Mitchell hopes to leave opponents with much more doubt as to who might be scoring for the Mean Green. In a win over Alcorn State last week, the Mean Green had two players (George and McDowell) finish in double figures, while two other players scored eight apiece (Summer Jones and Callie Owens). So far this season, George and freshman forward Destinee McDowell have accounted for 44% of the Mean Green's points.
Put it on lockdown
Jalie Mitchell's teams have always been regarded for their defense, and that won't change this season. What will change is the pace at which the Mean Green play. Showing more pressure defense than in past seasons, thanks to a change in philosophy and some new assistant coaches. Two weeks ago in a win over Alcorn State, UNT's defense set a program record as it allowed just 31 points to the Lady Braves. The Mean Green then tied the mark this past week with the win over Xavier (La.). The previous low in a game was when UNT allowed 33 points in a win at New Orleans on Jan. 5, 2006. Through four games, the Mean Green are allowing 47.8 points per game.
Players Mentioned
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Point Guard
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