University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
Alcorn State at Mean Green
11/10/2019 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DENTON – North Texas women's basketball hosts Alcorn State Monday at 7 p.m. at The Super Pit.
About the Mean Green (0-1, 0-0 C-USA)
UNT opened its season on Thursday with a 61-59 loss to Mid-America Christian in a game the Mean Green led by 13 points at the half and eight points going into the final quarter. Senior post Anisha George had 19 points and 26 rebounds to go with three blocked shots, while freshman Destinee McDowell was one rebound shy of a double-double in her North Texas debut, scoring 14 points to go with nine boards.
About the Lady Braves (0-2, 0-0 SWAC)
The Lady Braves dropped the first two games of the season to Memphis and Stephen F. Austin by a combined 11 points. Through two games, Alcorn State is led by Jada Hargrove (14.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and LaRae Rascoe (12.5 ppg), and the Lady Braves have averaged five made 3-pointers per game through the first two contests.
Going for five
Entering 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, scored 19 points in the team's season opener and pulled down a game-high 26 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end. Through one game, George is the nation's leading rebounder in terms of per-game average.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) had a big game in the Mean Green's season debut. The 5-foot-11 forward scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and also pulled down nine rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.
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 and Jazion Jackson (Dallas), along with guard Randi Thompson (Plano, Texas) and forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) will all be significant contributors.
Freshman floor generals
Relying on a freshman point guard to run the floor can be risky, but UNT head coach Jalie Mitchell is counting on two this year in Boyd and Jackson. In Sunday's exhibition win over TWU, Boyd scored 17 points to go with three assists and three steals. Jackson led the team with five assists. In Thursday's game against Mid-America Christian, Jackson led the team with four steals and had nine points.
Thompson makes Mean Green debut
After many of the Mean Green's heralded freshman class played in UNT's exhibition win over TWU, guard Randi Thompson (Plano, Texas) had to wait until Thursday's regular-season opener to see her first collegiate action. The shooting guard connected on her first career attempt – a 3-pointer.
A call for depth
Last season, two players (Terriell Bradley and Anisha George) accounted for 39 percent 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. Early results in practice and scrimmages were promising, and it came to fruition in the exhibition win over TWU. UNT had three players in double figures (George, Boyd and sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd), while two others (Jones and junior forward Deja Terrell) chipped in nine points apiece. Against Mid-America Christian, George and freshman forward Destinee McDowell scored in double figures, while freshman Jazion Jackson scored nine 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, UNT forced 25 turnovers and held TWU to 26 percent shooting from the field and just 14 percent from beyond the arc in Sunday's exhibition win. In Thursday's game against Mid-America Christian, UNT held the Evangels to 39 points below their average through their first three games.
About the Mean Green (0-1, 0-0 C-USA)
UNT opened its season on Thursday with a 61-59 loss to Mid-America Christian in a game the Mean Green led by 13 points at the half and eight points going into the final quarter. Senior post Anisha George had 19 points and 26 rebounds to go with three blocked shots, while freshman Destinee McDowell was one rebound shy of a double-double in her North Texas debut, scoring 14 points to go with nine boards.
About the Lady Braves (0-2, 0-0 SWAC)
The Lady Braves dropped the first two games of the season to Memphis and Stephen F. Austin by a combined 11 points. Through two games, Alcorn State is led by Jada Hargrove (14.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and LaRae Rascoe (12.5 ppg), and the Lady Braves have averaged five made 3-pointers per game through the first two contests.
Going for five
Entering 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, scored 19 points in the team's season opener and pulled down a game-high 26 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end. Through one game, George is the nation's leading rebounder in terms of per-game average.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) had a big game in the Mean Green's season debut. The 5-foot-11 forward scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and also pulled down nine rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.
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 and Jazion Jackson (Dallas), along with guard Randi Thompson (Plano, Texas) and forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) will all be significant contributors.
Freshman floor generals
Relying on a freshman point guard to run the floor can be risky, but UNT head coach Jalie Mitchell is counting on two this year in Boyd and Jackson. In Sunday's exhibition win over TWU, Boyd scored 17 points to go with three assists and three steals. Jackson led the team with five assists. In Thursday's game against Mid-America Christian, Jackson led the team with four steals and had nine points.
Thompson makes Mean Green debut
After many of the Mean Green's heralded freshman class played in UNT's exhibition win over TWU, guard Randi Thompson (Plano, Texas) had to wait until Thursday's regular-season opener to see her first collegiate action. The shooting guard connected on her first career attempt – a 3-pointer.
A call for depth
Last season, two players (Terriell Bradley and Anisha George) accounted for 39 percent 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. Early results in practice and scrimmages were promising, and it came to fruition in the exhibition win over TWU. UNT had three players in double figures (George, Boyd and sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd), while two others (Jones and junior forward Deja Terrell) chipped in nine points apiece. Against Mid-America Christian, George and freshman forward Destinee McDowell scored in double figures, while freshman Jazion Jackson scored nine 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, UNT forced 25 turnovers and held TWU to 26 percent shooting from the field and just 14 percent from beyond the arc in Sunday's exhibition win. In Thursday's game against Mid-America Christian, UNT held the Evangels to 39 points below their average through their first three games.
Players Mentioned
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Post
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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