DRC Womens BB fired up after rd win at Denver

OldTimer · January 19, 2004

Women's basketball: Lady Eagles fired up after road win at Denver

UNT looking for another victory in Miami

07:59 AM CST on Monday, January 19, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas women’s basketball coach Tina Slinker can sense a difference in her team this week.

The Lady Eagles seem more intense in practice and focused on their goals. Winning, it turns out, is just what UNT needed.

The Lady Eagles have won two of their last three games, including a 70-68 victory over Denver on Thursday. UNT is hoping the momentum from those wins will carry over tonight when the Lady Eagles finish off a three-game road trip with a game against Florida International.

UNT (5-9, 1-1) enters the game in Miami playing some of its best basketball of the season and could push its record in Sun Belt Conference play over the .500 mark.

"Beating Denver helped us for a lot of reasons," Slinker said. "Now we have won on the road, which should give us confidence going into our next road game."

The Lady Eagles are hoping that added confidence will help them win consecutive games, a milestone they have not reached since late November.

UNT beat Sam Houston State and Canisius in back-to-back games before losing seven straight.

UNT broke that skid with a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 2 and has steadily improved its play since.

All five UNT starters scored in double figures against Denver, marking the third straight game the Lady Eagles have had at least four players reach the 10-point mark.

"The Denver game was our best offensively this year in terms of doing what our coaches wanted us to," UNT senior forward Kim Blanton said. "Having so many players in double figures is what we want. That’s what it takes to win."

Blanton scored 18 points in UNT’s game against Denver. Junior guard Jill Medlock and Blanton are both averaging 12.1 points a game, while sophomore forward Jamie Armstrong is adding 10.4 points a game.

Freshman forward Mia Aje-kwu is not among UNT’s players averaging double figures, but she played a key role in the Lady Eagles’ recent surge. Ajekwu converted a 3-point play with 36 seconds left against Denver to give the Lady Eagles the win.

UNT found Ajekwu in the post, where she scored, despite being fouled. She then nailed the free throw for what turned out to be the game-winning point.

"Coach Slinker told me in practice that she wanted me to score when I got the ball down low," Ajekwu said. "When I got it, that was what I was looking to do."

UNT may need another solid game from its starting 6-3 forward against Florida Inter-national and its top player, Milena Tomova. The junior 6-3 forward from Bulgaria is averaging 17.2 points and 9.0 rebounds a game.

Ajekwu could play an important role in trying to slow down Tomova, a challenge she seems ready to face after her clutch play against Denver.

"Mia is either calm or she didn’t know how important that play was," Slinker said. "She is emotionally level.

"We have a lot of confidence in her."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.

CMJ · January 19, 2004

Here's hoping the women can pull it out tonight. We had a down year last season, but I'm expecting it may have been an aberration. I am a huge fan of Coach Slinker - and I think she'll right the ship.