Thursday, January 16
Denton
7 PM
University of North Texas
vs
Southern Miss
Photo by: Jon Mitchell
Mean Green vs. Southern Miss
1/15/2020 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
About the Mean Green
After opening the 2019-20 Conference USA season with a big win over WKU Jan. 2, the Mean Green has lost three straight at the hands of Marshall, FIU and Florida Atlantic to fall to 7-9 overall. Anisha George posts team-highs of 12.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, and Destinee McDowell contributes 11.1 and 7.2, respectively. The Mean Green is putting up 64.9 points per contest and allowing 59.9 while outrebounding opponents by 4.5.
About the Lady Eagles
Southern Miss is coming off of an 82-65 win versus UTSA Jan. 11 to bump their conference record to 2-1 and is 10-4 overall. The road swing at North Texas and Rice will be the first C-USA games away from home this season for the Lady Eagles. C-USA Preseason Team selection Shonte Hailes averages 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 assists for Southern Miss, while Respect Leaphart adds 13.3 points.
History between the squads
The Mean Green defeated the Lady Eagles, 49-46, in the opening round of the 2018-19 Conference C-USA Tournament to take a 5-4 all-time series lead. North Texas won at Southern Miss for the first time in program history Jan. 5, 2019.
Last meeting
FRISCO (March 13, 2019) – Terriell Bradley sank two free throws with seven seconds remaining on her way to a game-high 16 points, capping a 49-46 North Texas win over Southern Miss Wednesday in the first round of the 2019 Air Force Reserve C-USA Championships at The Star.
UNT (15-14, 7-9 C-USA) and Southern Miss (17-13, 9-7 C-USA) each had their share of scoring woes as the teams combined to shoot 31 of 111 from the floor for 27.9 percent. Madison Townley anchored the Mean Green defense by providing team highs of seven rebounds and three blocks. With the victory, North Texas has now won its opening round game of the Conference USA Championship each of the last four seasons.
OT snapped
The Mean Green fell to 12-27 all-time in overtime games following the 84-78 double OT loss at Florida Atlantic Jan. 11 to snap a six-game win streak involving extra periods. The most recent overtime victory occurred last season in an 83-76 defeat of Missouri State for UNT's third win in program history inside The Super Pit in OT. Three seasons ago, North Texas pulled out wins in each of its four overtime contests and went one-for-one in 2017-18.
Shepherd coming alive
Sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd had a pair of monster performances for the Mean Green during opening week of C-USA play with averages of 16.5 points and 16 rebounds. In the win over WKU Jan. 2, the Killeen native pulled down a career-high 23 rebounds for the third-best single game performance in NCAA Division I this season and now ranks second in program history. Shepherd scored 10 points for her second career double-double and also contributed three blocks and a pair of assists versus the Lady Toppers. Against Marshall Jan. 4, she scored a career-best 23 points and reeled in a game-high nine rebounds. Shepherd is third within C-USA contests in rebounding (9.5) and 20th in scoring (12.8).
Boards, boards, boards
With the help of Charlene Shepherd, the Mean Green have done a nice job of securing rebounds this season as they lead Conference USA and rank in the top 25 nationally in several categories: rebounds per game (43.9 RPG, #12), total rebounds (702, #19) and offensive RPG (15.8, #21). UNT is outrebounding their opponents by an average of 4.5 a contest.
The 63 rebounds collected against Texas A&M-Texarkana Dec. 29 ranks as the seventh-highest output in NCAA Division I this season. Anisha George's 26 against Mid-American Christian Nov. 7 is the best performance in NCAA Division I this season and also tied a UNT record. Shepherd recorded 23 against WKU Jan. 2 to sit third in the country and all-time at UNT, both behind George.
Doubling up
The Mean Green have already compiled 11 double-doubles in 2019-20, with five from Anisha George, two each from Charlene Shepherd and Destinee McDowell and Callie Owens. Last season, the team registered a total of seven – six from George and one by Townley.
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 8.2 points (third best on the team) and 5.1 rebounds (fifth on the team) while shooting 36 percent from the field and 33 percent on 3-pointers. Owens has twice tallied a UNT career-high 16 points – first against Louisiana Dec. 7 and then again Dec. 29 versus Texas A&M-Texarkana. She has produced a double-digit scoring effort five times this season. Owens ripped down a career-high 16 rebounds at Florida Atlantic Jan. 11.
Getting to the line
The Mean Green have made 298 trips to the free throw line this season compared to 224 from their opponents – nearly five more attempts per game. Against Texas A&M-Texarkana, the team sank a season-best 16-of-18 (89 percent). Beginning with the Rainbow Wahine Showdown Nov. 29-Dec. 1 through the FIU contest Jan. 9, they had gone a combined 82-of-20 (68.2 percent) before faltering at Florida Atlantic Jan. 11 with a 22-of-38 (57.9 percent) showing. The Mean Green also struggled early on 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 83 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
The Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 24.7 percent of their attempts, ranking them 333 of the 348 teams in NCAA Division I. The team had a breakout against WKU Jan. 2 by knocking down a season high 10-of-18 from deep, the seventh best performance in school history. In 2018-19, the squad concluded the season at 30.4 percent while knocking down 5.1 per game compared to 4.4 this season.
Start of C-USA play
The win over WKU Jan. 2 marked the second season in a row the Mean Green began conference play with a win. In 2018-19, the team compiled a 3-0 start in C-USA play for the first time in program history. Under head coach Jalie Mitchell, UNT also opened the conference slate with a victory in 2015-16.
Flurry of season-highs
The Mean Green closed out the non-conference schedule on a high note with a barrage of season team-highs in the convincing win over Texas A&M-Texarkana Dec. 29. The squad set season-highs in points (114), rebounds (63), field goal percentage (50.5), free throw percentage (88.9), assists (20) and steals (18) as well as a program-best 46 field goals against the Eagles.
Non-con results
UNT evened its overall record to 6-6 in non-conference with the dominant 114-54 win over Texas A&M-Texarkana Dec. 29. Dating to the 2015-16 season, the Mean Green is 29-29 in games occurring before the start of C-USA play. The team posted a mark of 7-5 in pre-conference play last season.
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.
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 59.5 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.
Last Mean Green outing
BOCA RATON, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2019) – Despite leading nearly all of regulation, North Texas dropped a heartbreaker to FAU in double overtime 84-78 Saturday at the Roofclaim.com Arena in Boca Raton. The Mean Green (7-9, 1-3) jumped out to a big early lead and only trailed one time in regulation, but allowed FAU (8-7, 2-2) to climb back from as many as 15 points down to tie the game with :12 to play and send the game into overtime.
After an evenly matched first overtime, FAU held North Texas to just two field goals in the second overtime, outscoring the Mean Green 13-7 to secure the six-point victory.
After opening the 2019-20 Conference USA season with a big win over WKU Jan. 2, the Mean Green has lost three straight at the hands of Marshall, FIU and Florida Atlantic to fall to 7-9 overall. Anisha George posts team-highs of 12.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, and Destinee McDowell contributes 11.1 and 7.2, respectively. The Mean Green is putting up 64.9 points per contest and allowing 59.9 while outrebounding opponents by 4.5.
About the Lady Eagles
Southern Miss is coming off of an 82-65 win versus UTSA Jan. 11 to bump their conference record to 2-1 and is 10-4 overall. The road swing at North Texas and Rice will be the first C-USA games away from home this season for the Lady Eagles. C-USA Preseason Team selection Shonte Hailes averages 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 assists for Southern Miss, while Respect Leaphart adds 13.3 points.
History between the squads
The Mean Green defeated the Lady Eagles, 49-46, in the opening round of the 2018-19 Conference C-USA Tournament to take a 5-4 all-time series lead. North Texas won at Southern Miss for the first time in program history Jan. 5, 2019.
Last meeting
FRISCO (March 13, 2019) – Terriell Bradley sank two free throws with seven seconds remaining on her way to a game-high 16 points, capping a 49-46 North Texas win over Southern Miss Wednesday in the first round of the 2019 Air Force Reserve C-USA Championships at The Star.
UNT (15-14, 7-9 C-USA) and Southern Miss (17-13, 9-7 C-USA) each had their share of scoring woes as the teams combined to shoot 31 of 111 from the floor for 27.9 percent. Madison Townley anchored the Mean Green defense by providing team highs of seven rebounds and three blocks. With the victory, North Texas has now won its opening round game of the Conference USA Championship each of the last four seasons.
OT snapped
The Mean Green fell to 12-27 all-time in overtime games following the 84-78 double OT loss at Florida Atlantic Jan. 11 to snap a six-game win streak involving extra periods. The most recent overtime victory occurred last season in an 83-76 defeat of Missouri State for UNT's third win in program history inside The Super Pit in OT. Three seasons ago, North Texas pulled out wins in each of its four overtime contests and went one-for-one in 2017-18.
Shepherd coming alive
Sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd had a pair of monster performances for the Mean Green during opening week of C-USA play with averages of 16.5 points and 16 rebounds. In the win over WKU Jan. 2, the Killeen native pulled down a career-high 23 rebounds for the third-best single game performance in NCAA Division I this season and now ranks second in program history. Shepherd scored 10 points for her second career double-double and also contributed three blocks and a pair of assists versus the Lady Toppers. Against Marshall Jan. 4, she scored a career-best 23 points and reeled in a game-high nine rebounds. Shepherd is third within C-USA contests in rebounding (9.5) and 20th in scoring (12.8).
Boards, boards, boards
With the help of Charlene Shepherd, the Mean Green have done a nice job of securing rebounds this season as they lead Conference USA and rank in the top 25 nationally in several categories: rebounds per game (43.9 RPG, #12), total rebounds (702, #19) and offensive RPG (15.8, #21). UNT is outrebounding their opponents by an average of 4.5 a contest.
The 63 rebounds collected against Texas A&M-Texarkana Dec. 29 ranks as the seventh-highest output in NCAA Division I this season. Anisha George's 26 against Mid-American Christian Nov. 7 is the best performance in NCAA Division I this season and also tied a UNT record. Shepherd recorded 23 against WKU Jan. 2 to sit third in the country and all-time at UNT, both behind George.
Doubling up
The Mean Green have already compiled 11 double-doubles in 2019-20, with five from Anisha George, two each from Charlene Shepherd and Destinee McDowell and Callie Owens. Last season, the team registered a total of seven – six from George and one by Townley.
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 8.2 points (third best on the team) and 5.1 rebounds (fifth on the team) while shooting 36 percent from the field and 33 percent on 3-pointers. Owens has twice tallied a UNT career-high 16 points – first against Louisiana Dec. 7 and then again Dec. 29 versus Texas A&M-Texarkana. She has produced a double-digit scoring effort five times this season. Owens ripped down a career-high 16 rebounds at Florida Atlantic Jan. 11.
Getting to the line
The Mean Green have made 298 trips to the free throw line this season compared to 224 from their opponents – nearly five more attempts per game. Against Texas A&M-Texarkana, the team sank a season-best 16-of-18 (89 percent). Beginning with the Rainbow Wahine Showdown Nov. 29-Dec. 1 through the FIU contest Jan. 9, they had gone a combined 82-of-20 (68.2 percent) before faltering at Florida Atlantic Jan. 11 with a 22-of-38 (57.9 percent) showing. The Mean Green also struggled early on 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 83 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
The Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 24.7 percent of their attempts, ranking them 333 of the 348 teams in NCAA Division I. The team had a breakout against WKU Jan. 2 by knocking down a season high 10-of-18 from deep, the seventh best performance in school history. In 2018-19, the squad concluded the season at 30.4 percent while knocking down 5.1 per game compared to 4.4 this season.
Start of C-USA play
The win over WKU Jan. 2 marked the second season in a row the Mean Green began conference play with a win. In 2018-19, the team compiled a 3-0 start in C-USA play for the first time in program history. Under head coach Jalie Mitchell, UNT also opened the conference slate with a victory in 2015-16.
Flurry of season-highs
The Mean Green closed out the non-conference schedule on a high note with a barrage of season team-highs in the convincing win over Texas A&M-Texarkana Dec. 29. The squad set season-highs in points (114), rebounds (63), field goal percentage (50.5), free throw percentage (88.9), assists (20) and steals (18) as well as a program-best 46 field goals against the Eagles.
Non-con results
UNT evened its overall record to 6-6 in non-conference with the dominant 114-54 win over Texas A&M-Texarkana Dec. 29. Dating to the 2015-16 season, the Mean Green is 29-29 in games occurring before the start of C-USA play. The team posted a mark of 7-5 in pre-conference play last season.
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.
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 59.5 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.
Last Mean Green outing
BOCA RATON, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2019) – Despite leading nearly all of regulation, North Texas dropped a heartbreaker to FAU in double overtime 84-78 Saturday at the Roofclaim.com Arena in Boca Raton. The Mean Green (7-9, 1-3) jumped out to a big early lead and only trailed one time in regulation, but allowed FAU (8-7, 2-2) to climb back from as many as 15 points down to tie the game with :12 to play and send the game into overtime.
After an evenly matched first overtime, FAU held North Texas to just two field goals in the second overtime, outscoring the Mean Green 13-7 to secure the six-point victory.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Post
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
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