DRC women's BB Nt ready for Sam Houston

[OldTimer]

Women's college basketball: UNT ready for Sam Houston

07:25 AM CST on Saturday, November 27, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas women's basketball coach Tina Slinker wants to see her team playing its best before taking on one of the biggest challenges of its season in the form of a game against LSU.

The last step toward that goal will come today when the Mean Green face Sam Houston State in a 7 p.m. road game. The contest will come just three days before UNT takes on the Tigers, who are ranked second in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

"It would absolutely help us get more out of the LSU game if we can beat Sam Houston," Slinker said. "We want to win and go in there [LSU] with a plan of what we want to accomplish."

Both UNT and Sam Houston have started off their seasons with games against solid teams. The Mean Green opened the season with a win over Binghamton before falling to Houston.

Sam Houston (0-2) has lost to TCU and SMU in its first two games and played Baylor late Friday night.

UNT saw some of the momentum it built in its win over Binghamton zapped in its loss to Houston, but the Mean Green was encouraged by what it accomplished early on against the Lady Cougars.

The Mean Green took a 40-39 lead over Houston at halftime and saw its frontline players perform well while matched up with Sancho Lyttle, a 6-4 center who is a candidate for the Naismith Trophy that goes to the nation's top player.

Sophomore forward Kelsie Edwards scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while fellow sophomore forward Mia Ajekwu added 11 points and nine rebounds. The duo helped UNT hold on early before Houston pulled away for an 88-65 win.

"We played well in the first half against Houston," said junior guard Natalie Mireles, who scored 10 points in the game. "We showed what we are capable to doing if we play together and play hard."

UNT is hoping to use a balanced offensive attack to build on its performance against Houston when it takes on Sam Houston. Edwards is averaging 14 points a game to lead four UNT players who are averaging at least nine points a game.

Junior guard Erika Bobo is posting 10.5 points a game to rank second on the team.

Junior center Shauna Singleton is averaging 10.5 points a game to pace Sam Houston, while freshman forward Sarah Hilton is adding 10.0 points a contest.

"Sam Houston is a scrappy team that plays really hard," Slinker said. "They have played a tough schedule."

Sam Houston played one of its toughest games late Friday night at Baylor. The Lady Bears entered their game against Sam Houston ranked ninth in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

UNT is hoping a game against a worn out Sam Houston team will give the Mean Green a chance to build on a solid half against Houston and head into a game against LSU playing its best basketball of the season.

"We have to make sure that they are not too emotional about the Houston game," Slinker said. "I am glad we played well against Houston. We just don't want to look back or forward to LSU."

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