Women’s Basketball Closes Out Regular Season With 68-56 Win Over Rice

[Dannymacfan]

HOUSTON, Texas — The UNT women’s basketball team closed out the regular season with a 23-7 record and a 15-3 mark in conference play with a 68-56 win over Rice Tuesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.

The win tied the program’s longest conference winning streak as the Mean Green will head to the AAC Tournament having won seven in-a-row. North Texas also matched the most wins in program history, tying the mark that last season’s team set at 23-9.

UNT controlled the majority of the game, holding the lead for 38:23 compared to Rice’s 19 seconds in front following a strong second quarter run for the Owls. North Texas jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter holding Rice scoreless for the first eight minutes of the game. 

After North Texas took a 16-6 lead into the second quarter, Rice responded with a similarly dominant quarter taking their first and only lead of the game, 21-19. Kyla Deck answered with six straight points to lead the Mean Green on a 9-0 run to regain the lead before the half.

North Texas remained in control the rest of the way, led by Tommisha Lampkin who recorded her 16^th double double of the season and moved one behind Clara Campbell for the most in program history. The senior forward posted 16 points and 11 rebounds, leading all players in both categories, while surpassing 1,500 career points in the win.

Deck added 13 points and five rebounds, while Desiree Wooten finished with 14 after a hot start. Ereauna Hardaway posted 11 points, six rebounds and six assists.

The Mean Green secured the second seed at the American Athletic Conference Championships and will play Monday, March 10 at 6 p.m. CT in the quarterfinals.