Thursday, January 9
Miami, FL
10 AM
University of North Texas
at
Florida International
Photo by: Jon Mitchell
Mean Green at FIU
1/8/2020 9:22:00 AM | Women's Basketball
About the Mean Green
UNT had its three-game win streak come to an end Jan. 4 with a 68-59 loss to Marshall to even up to 7-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Charlene Shepherd had a breakout week by posting averages of 16 points and 16.5 rebounds in the win over WKU Jan. 2 and against the Thundering Herd. This week's trip to Florida marks the first C-USA road swing this season for North Texas. The Mean Green are putting up 64.6 points per contest and allowing 57.9 while outrebounding opponents by six.
About the Panthers
FIU dropped its first two games of conference play to UTEP and UTSA on the road to move their overall record to 3-10. The team has collected wins over Georgia State, North Carolina Central and Grambling State this season. Three Panthers average double-digit scoring: Jiselle Thomas (10.3), Chelsea Guimaraes (10.0) and Fuijika (10.0). Guimaraes leads the team in rebounding at 7.9 per game, while Bre'Osha Scott is tops in assists at 2.1. FIU is being outscored 66.2-to-52.8 per game.
History between the squads
UNT holds a 13-10 advantage over the Panthers in a series that began during the 2000-01 season. The Mean Green have won the past six meetings, and Jalie Mitchell owns a perfect 5-0 mark over FIU during her head coaching tenure.
Last meeting
DENTON (Feb. 16, 2019) – Charlene Shepherd posted a career-high 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds while Terriell Bradley was the leading scorer with 19 as North Texas women's basketball won its third straight with a convincing 75-50 win over FIU inside The Super Pit.
The Mean Green (14-11, 7-6 C-USA) once again set conference season-highs, including the 25-point winning margin along with 17 assists. The team also matched their high in steals with nine and rebounding margin of 13. Anisha George contributed eight points and six rebounds, and Brittany Smith handed out a game-high five assists.
Shepherd coming alive
Sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd had a pair of monster performances for the Mean Green by posting averages of 16.5 points and 16 rebounds last week. In the win over WKU, the Killeen native pulled down a career-high 23 rebounds for the second-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, she scored a career-best 23 points and reeled in a game-high nine rebounds. Shepherd leads the C-USA stats in rebounding and is seventh in scoring.
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 30 nationally in several categories: rebounds per game (44.7 RPG, #14), offensive RPG (16.0, #18) and total rebounds (615, #28). UNT is outrebounding their opponents by an average of six 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 second in the country and all-time at UNT, both behind George.
Doubling up
The Mean Green have already compiled 10 double-doubles in 2019-20, with five from Anisha George, two each from Charlene Shepherd and Destinee McDowell, and one by Callie Owens. Last season, the team registered a total of seven – six from George and one by Townley.
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.
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 8.5 points (third best on the team) and 4.5 rebounds (fourth on the team) while shooting 39 percent from the field and 32 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.
Getting to the line
The Mean Green have made 252 trips to the free throw line this season compared to 181 from their opponents – over 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, where the team sank 44 of their 59 attempts (74.6 percent) during the three games, they have gone a combined 72-of-104 (69.2 percent) since. 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 83 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
The Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 24.1 percent of their attempts, ranking them 336 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 4.3 this season.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) has made an impact during here freshman season with the Mean Green. The 5-foot-11 forward produced her best showing of the season Dec. 29 versus Texas A&M-Texarkana with 26 points and 12 rebounds. McDowell is averaging 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game along with 2.6 steals. She nabbed eight takeaways in a win over Xavier (La.) Nov. 20 for the second-highest total in Mean Green history and the fourth best showing in NCAA Division I this season.
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.
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 28.4 minutes per game and is also the team leader in assists (2.3 per game). Jackson scored a career-high 13 points in the win over TAMUT Dec. 29 and a game-high 12 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 57.9 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
DENTON (Jan. 4, 2020) – North Texas saw its three-game winning streak come to a close on after losing to Marshall 68-59 at The Super Pit.
The Mean Green (7-7, 1-1 C-USA) opened the game making just 6 of 28 shots from the field and committed eight turnovers in the first half. The offensive inefficiencies allowed Marshall – who started poorly from the field as well – to stay in the game until they found their offensive rhythm.
With three minutes left in the first half, the Thundering Herd knocked down two deep 3-pointers, which ignited a 22-5 run that put North Texas in a 19-point hole midway through the third quarter.
In the final 15 minutes, the Mean Green outscored Marshall 33-23 and even pulled within three points of the Thundering Herd with 2:49 remaining in the game. However, several missed free throws and a dagger 3-pointer from Marshall erased any chance of a comeback and gave UNT its first loss in league play.
UNT had its three-game win streak come to an end Jan. 4 with a 68-59 loss to Marshall to even up to 7-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Charlene Shepherd had a breakout week by posting averages of 16 points and 16.5 rebounds in the win over WKU Jan. 2 and against the Thundering Herd. This week's trip to Florida marks the first C-USA road swing this season for North Texas. The Mean Green are putting up 64.6 points per contest and allowing 57.9 while outrebounding opponents by six.
About the Panthers
FIU dropped its first two games of conference play to UTEP and UTSA on the road to move their overall record to 3-10. The team has collected wins over Georgia State, North Carolina Central and Grambling State this season. Three Panthers average double-digit scoring: Jiselle Thomas (10.3), Chelsea Guimaraes (10.0) and Fuijika (10.0). Guimaraes leads the team in rebounding at 7.9 per game, while Bre'Osha Scott is tops in assists at 2.1. FIU is being outscored 66.2-to-52.8 per game.
History between the squads
UNT holds a 13-10 advantage over the Panthers in a series that began during the 2000-01 season. The Mean Green have won the past six meetings, and Jalie Mitchell owns a perfect 5-0 mark over FIU during her head coaching tenure.
Last meeting
DENTON (Feb. 16, 2019) – Charlene Shepherd posted a career-high 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds while Terriell Bradley was the leading scorer with 19 as North Texas women's basketball won its third straight with a convincing 75-50 win over FIU inside The Super Pit.
The Mean Green (14-11, 7-6 C-USA) once again set conference season-highs, including the 25-point winning margin along with 17 assists. The team also matched their high in steals with nine and rebounding margin of 13. Anisha George contributed eight points and six rebounds, and Brittany Smith handed out a game-high five assists.
Shepherd coming alive
Sophomore forward Charlene Shepherd had a pair of monster performances for the Mean Green by posting averages of 16.5 points and 16 rebounds last week. In the win over WKU, the Killeen native pulled down a career-high 23 rebounds for the second-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, she scored a career-best 23 points and reeled in a game-high nine rebounds. Shepherd leads the C-USA stats in rebounding and is seventh in scoring.
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 30 nationally in several categories: rebounds per game (44.7 RPG, #14), offensive RPG (16.0, #18) and total rebounds (615, #28). UNT is outrebounding their opponents by an average of six 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 second in the country and all-time at UNT, both behind George.
Doubling up
The Mean Green have already compiled 10 double-doubles in 2019-20, with five from Anisha George, two each from Charlene Shepherd and Destinee McDowell, and one by Callie Owens. Last season, the team registered a total of seven – six from George and one by Townley.
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.
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 8.5 points (third best on the team) and 4.5 rebounds (fourth on the team) while shooting 39 percent from the field and 32 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.
Getting to the line
The Mean Green have made 252 trips to the free throw line this season compared to 181 from their opponents – over 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, where the team sank 44 of their 59 attempts (74.6 percent) during the three games, they have gone a combined 72-of-104 (69.2 percent) since. 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 83 percent of her tries.
Three-point woes
The Mean Green have encountered shooting trouble from beyond the arc by connecting on just 24.1 percent of their attempts, ranking them 336 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 4.3 this season.
D-Mac attack
Forward Destinee McDowell (Fort Worth, Texas) has made an impact during here freshman season with the Mean Green. The 5-foot-11 forward produced her best showing of the season Dec. 29 versus Texas A&M-Texarkana with 26 points and 12 rebounds. McDowell is averaging 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game along with 2.6 steals. She nabbed eight takeaways in a win over Xavier (La.) Nov. 20 for the second-highest total in Mean Green history and the fourth best showing in NCAA Division I this season.
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.
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 28.4 minutes per game and is also the team leader in assists (2.3 per game). Jackson scored a career-high 13 points in the win over TAMUT Dec. 29 and a game-high 12 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 57.9 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
DENTON (Jan. 4, 2020) – North Texas saw its three-game winning streak come to a close on after losing to Marshall 68-59 at The Super Pit.
The Mean Green (7-7, 1-1 C-USA) opened the game making just 6 of 28 shots from the field and committed eight turnovers in the first half. The offensive inefficiencies allowed Marshall – who started poorly from the field as well – to stay in the game until they found their offensive rhythm.
With three minutes left in the first half, the Thundering Herd knocked down two deep 3-pointers, which ignited a 22-5 run that put North Texas in a 19-point hole midway through the third quarter.
In the final 15 minutes, the Mean Green outscored Marshall 33-23 and even pulled within three points of the Thundering Herd with 2:49 remaining in the game. However, several missed free throws and a dagger 3-pointer from Marshall erased any chance of a comeback and gave UNT its first loss in league play.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Post
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
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