Sunday, January 28
Denton, TX
2:00 PM CT
University of North Texas
vs
UAB
Women’s Basketball Set to Host UAB for Sole Possession of First Place in the AAC
1/26/2024 10:45:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DENTON, Texas – UNT women's basketball will look to continue its winning ways at home when it hosts UAB in a battle for sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference Sunday at 2 p.m. inside The Super Pit.
Coming into their first season in the AAC, North Texas and UAB were picked to finish No. 12 and No. 13 in the preseason conference standings. Through seven games of conference play, both teams are 6-1 and atop the standings with the winner of Sunday's contest holding the outright lead.
The teams have had similar seasons up to this point, including losses to an SEC opponent in their nonconference schedules. In addition, the lone AAC loss for both teams is on the road at Charlotte. Entering Sunday's game, UAB is coming off a 83-81 overtime win at Wichita State Thursday, while UNT outlasted Tulane Wednesday, 77-70, in its own overtime battle.
North Texas is undefeated at home this season, having won its last two at The Super Pit in dramatic fashion. The overtime win over Tulane was only possible because the Mean Green rallied from 15 points down late in the third quarter. In their previous home game on Jan. 14 against Wichita State, they overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to down the Shockers, 72-68.
With a win, UNT would tie its longest conference winning streak ever at seven games. It would also move Jason Burton past UNT Hall of Famer, Tina Slinker for most wins by a first-year head coach in program history.
Sunday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Kyle Youmans and Brian Burton on the call. The game can also be heard on the Varsity Sports Network with Zac Babb and Michelle Brooks.
WHAT 2 WATCH 4
• North Texas and UAB will square off for sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference standings. Both teams are 6-1 in AAC play this season with their lone loss coming at Charlotte.
• The Mean Green enter the game riding their second-longest win streak of the season at six games.
• DesiRay Kernal earned her fifth weekly conference honor of the season as she was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Jan. 22 after averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds in road wins over SMU and USF.
SERIES HISTORY
• North Texas and UAB will meet for the 19th time in series history on Sunday.
• The Mean Green hold a 10-8 advantage in the series, but UAB has won the last three meetings.
• The Blazers won all three meetings a season ago, including a 75-71 victory in the Conference USA tournament that ended UNT's season.
• The teams have split the six prior meetings in Denton, although UAB has won three of the last four at The Super Pit.
CAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WINNER
• Both Dyani Robinson and DesiRay Kernal are two of the winningest players in the country regardless of the division.
• Kernal has won 98 games she has appeared in over her five seasons of college basketball. In total, she has played in 132 of 133 career games, making her career winning percentage 74.2%.
• Robinson is not far behind her teammate with 90 career wins. Of note, Robinson missed the final 16 games of the 2022-23 season with a torn ACL.
FEAR THE FRONT COURT
• The frontcourt duo of Tommisha Lampkin and DesiRay Kernal has been one of the best in the conference and the country. While leading UNT in scoring and rebounding, arguably their most impressive trait has been their ability to score efficiently.
• Lampkin and Kernal rank first and third in the American conference in field goal percentage this season. Lampkin is shooting a career-high 67.5%, which ranks her No. 5 in the country, while Kernal is at 52.6%. (No. 60).
• In conference play this season, Lampkin and Kernal are averaging 31.5 points per game and 14.6 rebounds per game. Their last time out, the duo combined for 37 points and 20 rebounds against the Green Wave.
Coming into their first season in the AAC, North Texas and UAB were picked to finish No. 12 and No. 13 in the preseason conference standings. Through seven games of conference play, both teams are 6-1 and atop the standings with the winner of Sunday's contest holding the outright lead.
The teams have had similar seasons up to this point, including losses to an SEC opponent in their nonconference schedules. In addition, the lone AAC loss for both teams is on the road at Charlotte. Entering Sunday's game, UAB is coming off a 83-81 overtime win at Wichita State Thursday, while UNT outlasted Tulane Wednesday, 77-70, in its own overtime battle.
North Texas is undefeated at home this season, having won its last two at The Super Pit in dramatic fashion. The overtime win over Tulane was only possible because the Mean Green rallied from 15 points down late in the third quarter. In their previous home game on Jan. 14 against Wichita State, they overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to down the Shockers, 72-68.
With a win, UNT would tie its longest conference winning streak ever at seven games. It would also move Jason Burton past UNT Hall of Famer, Tina Slinker for most wins by a first-year head coach in program history.
Sunday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Kyle Youmans and Brian Burton on the call. The game can also be heard on the Varsity Sports Network with Zac Babb and Michelle Brooks.
WHAT 2 WATCH 4
• North Texas and UAB will square off for sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference standings. Both teams are 6-1 in AAC play this season with their lone loss coming at Charlotte.
• The Mean Green enter the game riding their second-longest win streak of the season at six games.
• DesiRay Kernal earned her fifth weekly conference honor of the season as she was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Jan. 22 after averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds in road wins over SMU and USF.
SERIES HISTORY
• North Texas and UAB will meet for the 19th time in series history on Sunday.
• The Mean Green hold a 10-8 advantage in the series, but UAB has won the last three meetings.
• The Blazers won all three meetings a season ago, including a 75-71 victory in the Conference USA tournament that ended UNT's season.
• The teams have split the six prior meetings in Denton, although UAB has won three of the last four at The Super Pit.
CAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WINNER
• Both Dyani Robinson and DesiRay Kernal are two of the winningest players in the country regardless of the division.
• Kernal has won 98 games she has appeared in over her five seasons of college basketball. In total, she has played in 132 of 133 career games, making her career winning percentage 74.2%.
• Robinson is not far behind her teammate with 90 career wins. Of note, Robinson missed the final 16 games of the 2022-23 season with a torn ACL.
FEAR THE FRONT COURT
• The frontcourt duo of Tommisha Lampkin and DesiRay Kernal has been one of the best in the conference and the country. While leading UNT in scoring and rebounding, arguably their most impressive trait has been their ability to score efficiently.
• Lampkin and Kernal rank first and third in the American conference in field goal percentage this season. Lampkin is shooting a career-high 67.5%, which ranks her No. 5 in the country, while Kernal is at 52.6%. (No. 60).
• In conference play this season, Lampkin and Kernal are averaging 31.5 points per game and 14.6 rebounds per game. Their last time out, the duo combined for 37 points and 20 rebounds against the Green Wave.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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