DRC Womens BB look to snap losing skid Friday

[OldTimer]

Lady Eagles look to snap losing skid Friday

12:50 AM CST on Friday, January 2, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

The North Texas women's basketball team has talked about gaining momentum for the beginning of the Sun Belt Conference season for weeks.

Tonight the Lady Eagles will have their last chance to reach that goal.

UNT has lost its last seven games, a skid the Lady Eagles (3-8) hope to end when they face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a 7 p.m. game at the Super Pit.

UNT's game against the Islanders is the Lady Eagles' final non-conference contest before they travel to New Mexico State for their league opener Jan. 10.

"It would be huge for us to get a win going into conference play," North Texas coach Tina Slinker said.

The task is one that could be a challenge for UNT, which struggled in a 91-53 loss to 19th-ranked TCU on Wednesday and lost one of its starters. Kennethia Wilson, a 5-10 sophomore forward, landed awkwardly early in the second half of UNT's game against TCU and twisted her left knee.

Wilson left the game after scoring seven points and pulling down four rebounds. She entered the game averaging 7.2 points a game.

Slinker said Wilson at least sprained ligaments in her knee and might have sustained more serious damage. Team doctors plan to evaluate the knee further once the swelling in the joint has subsided.

Even if Wilson receives the best possible diagnosis of strained ligaments, she is likely to miss several games.

UNT will be forced to adjust its lineup to make up for losing Wilson. Slinker said sophomore guards Erika Bobo, Jamie Armstrong and Mian Williams will all see more playing time against TAMCC.

"Kennethia is a strong player," Williams said. "It will take the whole team to make up for losing her."

Wilson was not only one of UNT's starters, but she is also shooting 43 percent from the field. Freshman forward Mia Ajekwu is the only other player on UNT's roster who is making more than 40 percent of her shots.

The Lady Eagles have struggled to find their form offensively throughout the season. UNT is averaging 64.1 points a game, a total that ranks eighth in the 11-team Sun Belt Conference.

Junior guard Jill Medlock is averaging 11.8 points a game to lead UNT, while senior forward Kim Blanton is averaging 11.5 points a game.

UNT may have to break out offensively to beat TAMCC (9-5). The Islanders have won three of their last four games.

Terra Andrews, a sophomore forward, averages 12.4 points a game to lead the Islanders.

The Lady Eagles are hoping to slow Andrews down and finally break through to end their losing streak.

"We are going to do everything we can to get a win," Armstrong said. "We have the talent. We just need that one win to get us going."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.