Sunday, December 29
Denton
3 PM
University of North Texas
vs
Texas A&M-Texarkana
TAMUT at Mean Green
12/28/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
About the Mean Green
UNT has been winners in two of its last three contests with victories over Louisiana Dec. 7, 69-66, and ULM Dec. 20, 63-51. Anisha George continues her dominance inside the paint for North Texas by averaging a double-double of 12.5 points and 10 rebounds while shooting over 66 percent from the field. Destinee McDowell is second on the team in both categories with averages of 11 points and 7.2 boards. The Mean Green are putting up 60.9 points per contest and allowing 57.6 while outrebounding their opponents by 4.3.
About the Eagles
A first-year program, Texas A&M-Texarkana competes in the NAIA within the Red River Conference. TAMUT has compiled a record of 2-12 with both wins coming against Champion Christian. The Eagles have faced a common opponent in Xavier (La.) where they lost, 77-38, Nov. 15. Mi'lan Francis-Miller averages a team-high 9.8 points, while Abby Dykes puts up 9.2, Victoria Hill adds 8.7, and Heavunli Reese 8.7. The Eagles are being outscored 80.4-to-60 points per game.
History between the squads
This marks the first meeting between the Mean Green and Eagles.
Callie's coming on
Redshirt junior Callie Owens is having her best year in a Mean Green uniform and the finest in her collegiate career. The Plano native is averaging 7.3 points (fourth best on the team) and 3.7 rebounds (fourth on the team) while shooting 43 percent from the field and 33 percent on 3-pointers. Owens tallied a UNT career-high 16 points against Louisiana Dec. 7 and has produced a double-digit scoring effort three times this season.
Non-con results
Entering its final non-conference game of the season, UNT looks to even its overall record to .500 before Conference USA play begins Jan. 2. Dating to the 2015-16 season, the Mean Green is 29-28 in games occurring before the start of C-USA play. The team posted a mark of 7-5 in pre-conference play last season.
Getting to the line
The Mean Green have made 192 trips to the free throw line this season compared to 140 from their opponents, nearly six more attempts per game. Beginning with the Rainbow Wahine Showdown Nov. 29-Dec. 1, where the team sank 44 of their 59 attempts (74.6 percent) during the three games, they have gone a combined 28-of-44 (663.6 percent) in the last two contests. 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 games. Destinee McDowell has been almost a sure bet at the line by knocking down nearly 81 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
The Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 21.1 percent of their attempts, ranking them 344 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, has recorded five double-doubles, the fifth-highest total in the country. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands, native is averaging 12.5 points and 10 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 15th nationally averaging 4.4 offensive rebounds per game. On the scoring end, George is converting 66.3 percent of her shots to lead Conference USA and rank sixth 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 11 points and 7.2 rebounds per game – second on the team behind George in both categories. She is also averaging 2.7 steals per game and nabbed eight takeaways in a win over Xavier (La.) Nov. 20 for the second-highest total in Mean Green history and the third best showing in NCAA Division I this season. She had her first career double-double in the loss to CSU Bakersfield with 10 points and 12 rebounds and posted a career-high 21 points in the win over ULM Dec. 7.
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 29.5 minutes per game and is also the team leader in assists (2.3 per game). 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 57.6 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.
UNT has been winners in two of its last three contests with victories over Louisiana Dec. 7, 69-66, and ULM Dec. 20, 63-51. Anisha George continues her dominance inside the paint for North Texas by averaging a double-double of 12.5 points and 10 rebounds while shooting over 66 percent from the field. Destinee McDowell is second on the team in both categories with averages of 11 points and 7.2 boards. The Mean Green are putting up 60.9 points per contest and allowing 57.6 while outrebounding their opponents by 4.3.
About the Eagles
A first-year program, Texas A&M-Texarkana competes in the NAIA within the Red River Conference. TAMUT has compiled a record of 2-12 with both wins coming against Champion Christian. The Eagles have faced a common opponent in Xavier (La.) where they lost, 77-38, Nov. 15. Mi'lan Francis-Miller averages a team-high 9.8 points, while Abby Dykes puts up 9.2, Victoria Hill adds 8.7, and Heavunli Reese 8.7. The Eagles are being outscored 80.4-to-60 points per game.
History between the squads
This marks the first meeting between the Mean Green and Eagles.
Callie's coming on
Redshirt junior Callie Owens is having her best year in a Mean Green uniform and the finest in her collegiate career. The Plano native is averaging 7.3 points (fourth best on the team) and 3.7 rebounds (fourth on the team) while shooting 43 percent from the field and 33 percent on 3-pointers. Owens tallied a UNT career-high 16 points against Louisiana Dec. 7 and has produced a double-digit scoring effort three times this season.
Non-con results
Entering its final non-conference game of the season, UNT looks to even its overall record to .500 before Conference USA play begins Jan. 2. Dating to the 2015-16 season, the Mean Green is 29-28 in games occurring before the start of C-USA play. The team posted a mark of 7-5 in pre-conference play last season.
Getting to the line
The Mean Green have made 192 trips to the free throw line this season compared to 140 from their opponents, nearly six more attempts per game. Beginning with the Rainbow Wahine Showdown Nov. 29-Dec. 1, where the team sank 44 of their 59 attempts (74.6 percent) during the three games, they have gone a combined 28-of-44 (663.6 percent) in the last two contests. 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 games. Destinee McDowell has been almost a sure bet at the line by knocking down nearly 81 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
The Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 21.1 percent of their attempts, ranking them 344 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, has recorded five double-doubles, the fifth-highest total in the country. The St. Croix, Virgin Islands, native is averaging 12.5 points and 10 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 15th nationally averaging 4.4 offensive rebounds per game. On the scoring end, George is converting 66.3 percent of her shots to lead Conference USA and rank sixth 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 11 points and 7.2 rebounds per game – second on the team behind George in both categories. She is also averaging 2.7 steals per game and nabbed eight takeaways in a win over Xavier (La.) Nov. 20 for the second-highest total in Mean Green history and the third best showing in NCAA Division I this season. She had her first career double-double in the loss to CSU Bakersfield with 10 points and 12 rebounds and posted a career-high 21 points in the win over ULM Dec. 7.
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 29.5 minutes per game and is also the team leader in assists (2.3 per game). 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 57.6 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.
Players Mentioned
Post
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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