Monday, December 16
Logan, UT
8 PM
University of North Texas
at
Utah State
Mean Green at Utah State
12/15/2019 10:46:00 AM | Women's Basketball
About the Mean Green
UNT returned home Dec. 7 and produced a 69-66 win over Louisiana to bump its record to 4-5. Anisha George continues her dominance inside the paint for North Texas by averaging a double-double of 12.7 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting over 67 percent from the field. Destinee McDowell is second on the team in both categories with averages of 9.9 points and 7.6 boards. The Mean Green are putting up 61.3 points per contest and allowing 57.4 while outrebounding their opponents by 5.5.
About the Aggies
Utah State is coming off of a 75-46 loss at fourth-ranked Oregon State Saturday to drop their overall record to 3-7. The Aggies have racked up wins against Seattle, Long Beach State and Dixie State. Lindsey Jensen-Baker averages a team-high 13.7 points, while Steph Gorman puts up 12.6, and Hailey Bassett adds 12.4. USU is being outscored 71.6 to 58.6 in contests and is scoring 44.8 of those points before halftime.
History between the squads
The Mean Green and Aggies first saw each other last year where USU took a 57-41 victory in Denton Dec. 8. North Texas then ended Utah State's season March 26 in the second round of the WBI in a 56-54 Mean Green win inside the Super Pit.
Last time they met
DENTON (March 26, 2019) – North Texas women's basketball secured its first back-to-back winning seasons in 17 years Tuesday night inside The Super Pit with a 56-54 win over Utah State in the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) for the second nonconference postseason victory in program history.
Terriell Bradley also made history as she surpassed head coach Jalie Mitchell for top honors in free throws by sinking five on the night to push her career total to 413. Bradley's 16 points were a team-high, while Madison Townley and Deja Terrell each scored 10. The Mean Green (17-15) outrebounded the Aggies (17-16) 38-to-28, led by eight boards from Townley, a season-high seven by Brittany Smith, and a career-high six from Grace Goodhart.
Battle of the boards
The Mean Green have done a nice job of securing rebounds this season as they rank in the top 30 nationally in rebounds per game (44.4 RPG, #20) and offensive RPG (15.8, #28). UNT is outrebounding their opponents by an average of 5.5 per contest. The 62 rebounds collected in the season opener Nov. 7 against Mid-America Christian ranks as the seventh-highest output in NCAA Division I this season.
Non-con results
UNT enters the contest at Utah State hoping to even its overall record to 5-5, all against non-conference opponents. Dating to the 2015-16 season, the Mean Green are 28-27 in games occurring before the start of C-USA play. The team posted a mark of 7-5 in pre-conference play last season.
Freebies going down
The Mean Green have made a turnaround at the free throw line beginning at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown Nov. 29-Dec. 1 as the Hawaiian climate was favorable while the team sank 44 of their 59 attempts (74.6 percent) during the three games before going 9-of-14 against Louisiana Dec. 7. The Mean Green did not begin the season at such a clip by only converting 46-of-89 (51.7 percent) throughout the first five contests. Destinee McDowell has been almost a sure bet at the line by knocking down over 82 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
Through eight games, the Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 20.7 percent of their attempts, ranking them 345 of the 348 teams in NCAA Division I. In 2018-19, the squad concluded the season at 30.4 percent while knocking down 5.1 per game compared to 3.9 this season.
By George!
Post Anisha George, the team's lone senior, is off to a hot start and already has recorded four double-doubles, the sixth-highest total in the country. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands, native is averaging 12.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Her 26 rebounds in the season opener against Mid-America Christian is still the single-game high by a player nationally this year – three higher than the next closest total. George is ranked 13th nationally averaging 4.7 offensive rebounds per game. On the scoring end, George is converting 67.6 percent of her shots to lead Conference USA and rank eighth in the nation.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) is showing remarkable consistency through the beginning 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. McDowell is averaging 9.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game – second on the team behind George in both categories. She is also averaging 2.6 steals per game and nabbed eight takeaways in a win over Xavier (La.) Nov. 20 for the second-highest total in Mean Green history. She had her first career double-double in the loss to CSU Bakersfield with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
UNT versus top 25
The final opponent for North Texas at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, No. 12 NC State, was the latest top 25 team to face the Mean Green in program history. Following the 76-65 UNT loss Dec. 1, the Mean Green are 1-18 all-time against the top 25 teams, with that one win coming over No. 17 Oklahoma in 2015 – Jalie Mitchell's first win as a college head coach.
Jackson leading team in minutes
As one member of UNT's heralded freshman class, point guard Jazion Jackson (Dallas) has been a staple on the floor for the Mean Green. She is averaging a team-high 28.8 minutes per game and is also the team leader in assists (2.7 per game) and is in fourth in rebounds per game (3.8). Jackson scored a game-high 12 points in the loss to CSU Bakersfield Nov. 12.
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. In the Nov. 11 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 Nov. 20 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 five games, the Mean Green are allowing 57.4 points 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.
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.
UNT returned home Dec. 7 and produced a 69-66 win over Louisiana to bump its record to 4-5. Anisha George continues her dominance inside the paint for North Texas by averaging a double-double of 12.7 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting over 67 percent from the field. Destinee McDowell is second on the team in both categories with averages of 9.9 points and 7.6 boards. The Mean Green are putting up 61.3 points per contest and allowing 57.4 while outrebounding their opponents by 5.5.
About the Aggies
Utah State is coming off of a 75-46 loss at fourth-ranked Oregon State Saturday to drop their overall record to 3-7. The Aggies have racked up wins against Seattle, Long Beach State and Dixie State. Lindsey Jensen-Baker averages a team-high 13.7 points, while Steph Gorman puts up 12.6, and Hailey Bassett adds 12.4. USU is being outscored 71.6 to 58.6 in contests and is scoring 44.8 of those points before halftime.
History between the squads
The Mean Green and Aggies first saw each other last year where USU took a 57-41 victory in Denton Dec. 8. North Texas then ended Utah State's season March 26 in the second round of the WBI in a 56-54 Mean Green win inside the Super Pit.
Last time they met
DENTON (March 26, 2019) – North Texas women's basketball secured its first back-to-back winning seasons in 17 years Tuesday night inside The Super Pit with a 56-54 win over Utah State in the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) for the second nonconference postseason victory in program history.
Terriell Bradley also made history as she surpassed head coach Jalie Mitchell for top honors in free throws by sinking five on the night to push her career total to 413. Bradley's 16 points were a team-high, while Madison Townley and Deja Terrell each scored 10. The Mean Green (17-15) outrebounded the Aggies (17-16) 38-to-28, led by eight boards from Townley, a season-high seven by Brittany Smith, and a career-high six from Grace Goodhart.
Battle of the boards
The Mean Green have done a nice job of securing rebounds this season as they rank in the top 30 nationally in rebounds per game (44.4 RPG, #20) and offensive RPG (15.8, #28). UNT is outrebounding their opponents by an average of 5.5 per contest. The 62 rebounds collected in the season opener Nov. 7 against Mid-America Christian ranks as the seventh-highest output in NCAA Division I this season.
Non-con results
UNT enters the contest at Utah State hoping to even its overall record to 5-5, all against non-conference opponents. Dating to the 2015-16 season, the Mean Green are 28-27 in games occurring before the start of C-USA play. The team posted a mark of 7-5 in pre-conference play last season.
Freebies going down
The Mean Green have made a turnaround at the free throw line beginning at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown Nov. 29-Dec. 1 as the Hawaiian climate was favorable while the team sank 44 of their 59 attempts (74.6 percent) during the three games before going 9-of-14 against Louisiana Dec. 7. The Mean Green did not begin the season at such a clip by only converting 46-of-89 (51.7 percent) throughout the first five contests. Destinee McDowell has been almost a sure bet at the line by knocking down over 82 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
Through eight games, the Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 20.7 percent of their attempts, ranking them 345 of the 348 teams in NCAA Division I. In 2018-19, the squad concluded the season at 30.4 percent while knocking down 5.1 per game compared to 3.9 this season.
By George!
Post Anisha George, the team's lone senior, is off to a hot start and already has recorded four double-doubles, the sixth-highest total in the country. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands, native is averaging 12.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Her 26 rebounds in the season opener against Mid-America Christian is still the single-game high by a player nationally this year – three higher than the next closest total. George is ranked 13th nationally averaging 4.7 offensive rebounds per game. On the scoring end, George is converting 67.6 percent of her shots to lead Conference USA and rank eighth in the nation.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) is showing remarkable consistency through the beginning 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. McDowell is averaging 9.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game – second on the team behind George in both categories. She is also averaging 2.6 steals per game and nabbed eight takeaways in a win over Xavier (La.) Nov. 20 for the second-highest total in Mean Green history. She had her first career double-double in the loss to CSU Bakersfield with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
UNT versus top 25
The final opponent for North Texas at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, No. 12 NC State, was the latest top 25 team to face the Mean Green in program history. Following the 76-65 UNT loss Dec. 1, the Mean Green are 1-18 all-time against the top 25 teams, with that one win coming over No. 17 Oklahoma in 2015 – Jalie Mitchell's first win as a college head coach.
Jackson leading team in minutes
As one member of UNT's heralded freshman class, point guard Jazion Jackson (Dallas) has been a staple on the floor for the Mean Green. She is averaging a team-high 28.8 minutes per game and is also the team leader in assists (2.7 per game) and is in fourth in rebounds per game (3.8). Jackson scored a game-high 12 points in the loss to CSU Bakersfield Nov. 12.
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. In the Nov. 11 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 Nov. 20 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 five games, the Mean Green are allowing 57.4 points 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.
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.
Players Mentioned
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Post
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
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