Saturday, March 2
Houston, TX
2:00 PM CT
University of North Texas
at
Rice
Mean Green Looking for More History Against Rice Saturday
3/1/2024 9:34:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DENTON, Texas – UNT women's basketball (21-7, 11-5 AAC) travels to Houston to face Rice Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Tudor Fieldhouse in its final away game of the regular season slate.
The Mean Green have a lot at stake heading into their final two games of the season. A victory over Rice would improve UNT to 22-7 on the season, marking the most wins in a single season in program history. It would also secure North Texas a top-four seed in the American Athletic Conference standings resulting in a double bye at the conference tournament.
UNT currently sits in a three-way tie for first place with Temple and Tulsa in the AAC standings. UNT beat Temple on Jan. 2, but lost to Tulsa on Feb. 4, which could play a factor in the seeding of the conference tournament.
Rice heads into Saturday's contest having lost three in-a-row. The Owls are 15-12 this season and 9-7 in the AAC after being picked to finish third in the preseason standings.
On the other hand, UNT has won its last two matchups surpassing 90 points in victories over UAB and East Carolina. Its last time out, North Texas defeated ECU, 93-91, in four overtimes. It was the longest game played in program history and one of just three Division I games to be decided in a fourth overtime this season. DesiRay Kernal and Tommisha Lampkin posted double doubles for the third straight game, while playing over 50 minutes each.
Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Matt Pederson and Nate Griffin on the call. The game can also be heard on the Varsity Sports Network with Zac Babb.
WHAT 2 WATCH 4
• North Texas travels to Houston to face Rice Saturday with an opportunity to collect its 22nd win of the season.
• A win over Rice would not only mark the most wins in a season in program history for UNT women's basketball, but also clinch a double bye at the conference tournament.
• Tommisha Lampkin and DesiRay Kernal have both recorded double doubles in each of the last three games.
• Kernal earned another AAC Weekly Honor Roll selection after double doubles in both games last week. The graduate transfer had a near perfect game against UAB on Feb. 24 posting a stat line that had not been replicated by a Division I player since 2014.
SERIES HISTORY
• North Texas and Rice will meet for 24th time Saturday with Rice holding a 15-8 advantage in the series.
• UNT has won four of the last five against Rice, including in the most recent meeting on Feb. 4, 2023.
• Rice has won seven of the 11 games when the teams have met in Tudor Fieldhouse.
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 103 games she has appeared in over her five seasons of college basketball. In total, she has played in 141 of 142 career games, making her career winning percentage 73.0%.
• Robinson is not far behind her teammate with 95 career wins. Of note, Robinson missed the final 16 games of the 2022-23 season with a torn ACL.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 70
• With the UNT offense averaging 75.8 points per game, getting to 70 has proven to be an indicator of success for the Mean Green.
• North Texas is 19-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
• The lone loss came on Feb. 4 when North Texas fell to Tulsa 79-74.
The Mean Green have a lot at stake heading into their final two games of the season. A victory over Rice would improve UNT to 22-7 on the season, marking the most wins in a single season in program history. It would also secure North Texas a top-four seed in the American Athletic Conference standings resulting in a double bye at the conference tournament.
UNT currently sits in a three-way tie for first place with Temple and Tulsa in the AAC standings. UNT beat Temple on Jan. 2, but lost to Tulsa on Feb. 4, which could play a factor in the seeding of the conference tournament.
Rice heads into Saturday's contest having lost three in-a-row. The Owls are 15-12 this season and 9-7 in the AAC after being picked to finish third in the preseason standings.
On the other hand, UNT has won its last two matchups surpassing 90 points in victories over UAB and East Carolina. Its last time out, North Texas defeated ECU, 93-91, in four overtimes. It was the longest game played in program history and one of just three Division I games to be decided in a fourth overtime this season. DesiRay Kernal and Tommisha Lampkin posted double doubles for the third straight game, while playing over 50 minutes each.
Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Matt Pederson and Nate Griffin on the call. The game can also be heard on the Varsity Sports Network with Zac Babb.
WHAT 2 WATCH 4
• North Texas travels to Houston to face Rice Saturday with an opportunity to collect its 22nd win of the season.
• A win over Rice would not only mark the most wins in a season in program history for UNT women's basketball, but also clinch a double bye at the conference tournament.
• Tommisha Lampkin and DesiRay Kernal have both recorded double doubles in each of the last three games.
• Kernal earned another AAC Weekly Honor Roll selection after double doubles in both games last week. The graduate transfer had a near perfect game against UAB on Feb. 24 posting a stat line that had not been replicated by a Division I player since 2014.
SERIES HISTORY
• North Texas and Rice will meet for 24th time Saturday with Rice holding a 15-8 advantage in the series.
• UNT has won four of the last five against Rice, including in the most recent meeting on Feb. 4, 2023.
• Rice has won seven of the 11 games when the teams have met in Tudor Fieldhouse.
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 103 games she has appeared in over her five seasons of college basketball. In total, she has played in 141 of 142 career games, making her career winning percentage 73.0%.
• Robinson is not far behind her teammate with 95 career wins. Of note, Robinson missed the final 16 games of the 2022-23 season with a torn ACL.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 70
• With the UNT offense averaging 75.8 points per game, getting to 70 has proven to be an indicator of success for the Mean Green.
• North Texas is 19-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
• The lone loss came on Feb. 4 when North Texas fell to Tulsa 79-74.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballWBB Postgame Press Conference | UNT vs. UTA | WNIT 2nd round
Tuesday, March 25
WBB Postgame Press Conference | UNT vs. UAB
Saturday, March 01
Overtime Recap vs ECU | Mean Green WBB
Friday, February 28
Broadcast Highlights vs Charlotte | Mean Green WBB
Thursday, February 27