University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
UNT Ready For Season Opener
11/6/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DENTON – The new look North Texas women's basketball team got its first taste of live action on Sunday with a runaway victory in an exhibition against TWU.
Now, that group of new faces – both on the roster and on the coaching staff – is ready for its first game that counts when the Mean Green open the regular season on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., against Mid-America Christian at The Super Pit.
UNT head coach Jalie Mitchell is set to begin her fifth season as her alma mater's head coach and said she loves this time of year.
"There's definitely still excitement for the season and Sunday was a part of that - playing under the lights and getting any kind of jitters that you might have out," Mitchell said. "I thought we handled that very well on Sunday, and I expect the same on Thursday."
Freshman point guard N'Yah Boyd had 17 points against TWU, while freshman forward Destinee McDowell had six points, five boards, two assists and tied for the game-high with three steals. Another freshman point guard, Jazion Jackson, led the team with five assists, and junior college transfer Summer Jones chipped in nine points in her first action with the Mean Green.
"They've been doing that every day in practice so it was nice to see there was no shell they needed to come out of," Mitchell said. "They are who they are, and I think they're going to be that every day, and that's what we need."
UNT is familiar with Mid-America Christian, having defeated them in the season-opener a year ago, 82-35, and Mitchell said she knows what to expect come Thursday.
"I feel like we know them pretty well," she said. "They have played a couple of games and so we do have an idea of who they are this year and what they're looking to do and what we have to stop and be prepared for on our end, offensively.
"We run the same type of offense so we'll be trying to execute against each other and they'll throw a few different defenses at us – man and zone," Mitchell added. "They'll give us some different looks, and it's a good challenge for our freshman point guards to see some different looks and be sure they're vocal in what we're running and make sure we're executing properly."
Post Anisha George, the team's lone senior, scored a game-high 26 points in the win over TWU and said she has been impressed with how the newcomers have performed so far, but she's looking forward to seeing how they perform when the games count.
"The main thing is, I've just been telling them they aren't in high school anymore," George said. "College is a completely different game, but I think they're ready for it."
While George led the way on Sunday, two other players (Boyd and sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd) scored in double figures, while two players scored nine points and two others had seven. That left Mitchell satisfied with what she hoped she'd see in terms of having more scoring depth this season.
Thursday marks the first official test.
"We had two other people that should be suited up pretty soon for us that didn't play, and I expect them to be in on that scoring, too," she said. "That's the best we could've hoped for, and as long as that continues, I think we'll be tough to guard."
Now, that group of new faces – both on the roster and on the coaching staff – is ready for its first game that counts when the Mean Green open the regular season on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., against Mid-America Christian at The Super Pit.
UNT head coach Jalie Mitchell is set to begin her fifth season as her alma mater's head coach and said she loves this time of year.
"There's definitely still excitement for the season and Sunday was a part of that - playing under the lights and getting any kind of jitters that you might have out," Mitchell said. "I thought we handled that very well on Sunday, and I expect the same on Thursday."
Freshman point guard N'Yah Boyd had 17 points against TWU, while freshman forward Destinee McDowell had six points, five boards, two assists and tied for the game-high with three steals. Another freshman point guard, Jazion Jackson, led the team with five assists, and junior college transfer Summer Jones chipped in nine points in her first action with the Mean Green.
"They've been doing that every day in practice so it was nice to see there was no shell they needed to come out of," Mitchell said. "They are who they are, and I think they're going to be that every day, and that's what we need."
UNT is familiar with Mid-America Christian, having defeated them in the season-opener a year ago, 82-35, and Mitchell said she knows what to expect come Thursday.
"I feel like we know them pretty well," she said. "They have played a couple of games and so we do have an idea of who they are this year and what they're looking to do and what we have to stop and be prepared for on our end, offensively.
"We run the same type of offense so we'll be trying to execute against each other and they'll throw a few different defenses at us – man and zone," Mitchell added. "They'll give us some different looks, and it's a good challenge for our freshman point guards to see some different looks and be sure they're vocal in what we're running and make sure we're executing properly."
Post Anisha George, the team's lone senior, scored a game-high 26 points in the win over TWU and said she has been impressed with how the newcomers have performed so far, but she's looking forward to seeing how they perform when the games count.
"The main thing is, I've just been telling them they aren't in high school anymore," George said. "College is a completely different game, but I think they're ready for it."
While George led the way on Sunday, two other players (Boyd and sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd) scored in double figures, while two players scored nine points and two others had seven. That left Mitchell satisfied with what she hoped she'd see in terms of having more scoring depth this season.
Thursday marks the first official test.
"We had two other people that should be suited up pretty soon for us that didn't play, and I expect them to be in on that scoring, too," she said. "That's the best we could've hoped for, and as long as that continues, I think we'll be tough to guard."
Players Mentioned
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Post
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
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