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UNT notebook: UNT women look to build on key victory

Mean Green see win as a chance to turn corner

09:00 AM CST on Wednesday, January 12, 2005

The North Texas women’s basketball team is hoping a win over New Mexico State last week will prove to be a turning point in its season.

The Mean Green struggled through a tough non-conference campaign and lost their last three games before breaking through for a 63-55 win over the Aggies in their Sun Belt Conference opener.

"It was a really critical win because we were at home, we broke the losing streak and we tried to convince ourselves that our pre-conference schedule was preparing us for conference play," UNT coach Tina Slinker said. "The win showed that we did the right thing."

The Mean Green will look to build on their win over NMSU when they face Denver at 7 p.m. on Thursday at The Super Pit.

The Pioneers are just 2-11 on the season and lost their first game in Sun Belt play to Louisiana-Lafayette. A game against the cellar-dwelling Pioneers will provide the Mean Green a chance to jump out to a 2-0 start in league play.

UNT has not won its first two games in Sun Belt play since joining the league in 2000.

The MeanGreen were picked to finish in third place in the Sun Belt’s West Division this season.

Briefs

Women’s basketball

UNT on record pace defensively this season

The Mean Green are on pace to have one of the best seasons in school history defensively.

UNT is allowing 62 points a game and is holding its opponents to 37.1 percent shooting from the field. The school record for average number of points allowed is 62.6 while the record for field goal percentage defense is 37.4 percent.

The Mean Green could have a chance to improve their totals when they take on Denver on Thursday. The Pioneers rank ninth in the Sun Belt in both scoring (53.6 points a game) and field goal percentage (34 percent).

Men’s basketball

Schedule just fine with UNT

UNT will complete perhaps its toughest road trip of the season in the next few days when the team travels to Denver for a game Thursday before heading to Miami for a game against Florida International on Monday.

The games will come on the heels of a win over New Mexico State in the Mean Green’s Sun Belt Conference opener in Las Cruces, N.M.

While the situation is not ideal, it is better than road swings UNT has endured in previous seasons when the Mean Green played road games on Thursday and Saturday in the same week.

"It’s a better schedule for us," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "At least we will get a chance to come home on Friday, sleep in our own beds, get ready on Saturday and then fly out on Monday. It will give us an additional day to prepare and another day of rest. I would rather do that than play on Thursday and Saturday."

Thomas comes through after switch to new spot

UNT coach Johnny Jones was pleased with the performance of small forward Ty Thomas in the Mean Green’s win over New Mexico State last week.

Thomas came into the game in the waning moments of the game and made a series of key plays from the power forward position. Jones inserted Thomas into the lineup after Ron Harris was struck in the head.

Thomas responded by scoring eight points and pulling down three rebounds in just 13 minutes of action. The junior hit all four of his free throws in the game.

Harris was not seriously injured and will return in UNT’s game against Denver on Thursday.

Simpson throws block party

Center Jeffrey Simpson showed signs of becoming a solid defensive player for UNT during the Mean Green’s win over New Mexico State last week.

The junior finished with six blocks against the Aggies, the fourth most for a single game in UNT history. Simpson added six points and four rebounds in 26 minutes.

Simpson enters UNT’s game against Denver this week leading the Mean Green in blocks with 13.

Simpson’s performance could be key this week against the Pioneers, who feature 6-10 center Yemi Nicholson. The junior averages 16.1 points and 7.3 rebounds a game to lead the Pioneers in both categories.

"He is one of those guys that they are trying to go to constantly now," UNT coach Johnny Jones said. "He delivers well."

Athlete Profile

Full name: Amber Jackson

Nickname: Indiana

High school: Brebeuf, Indianapolis

Born (and where): May 30, 1986 (Indianapolis)

Family (with ages): Cynthia Jackson (44), Rana Barker (27)

Position: Forward

Major: Undeclared

When I graduate, I plan to: Coach

My favorite athlete is: Tracy McGrady

I am sick of athletes who are: Lazy

If I could get four tickets to any sporting event in the world, it would be: The NBA Finals

Three famous people I would take to the event would be: Chris Tucker, Michael Jordan, Queen Latifah

My favorite sports movie is: Remember the Titians

My favorite pro sports team is: Colts

My favorite restaurant is: TGI Fridays

The person who had the most influence on my life is: My sister

The best summer I ever spent was: Playing AAU basketball all summer all over the Midwest

My dream for this year is to: See UNT go to the NCAA Tournament

Player of the week

Calvin Watson continued to provide the North Texas men’s basketball team with a second scoring option during a game against New Mexico State last week.

The sophomore guard scored 23 points despite taking just nine shots from the field in a 79-69 win over the Aggies. Watson went 6-of-9 from the field, made all nine of his free throws and finished tied for second on the team with six rebounds.

Watson’s performance against NMSU marked the second straight game he has scored 20 points. He scored 20 points in a win over Tennessee-Martin in the consolation game of the Dr Pepper Classic.

Watson’s 23-point outing against NMSU provided a perfect complement to the game-high 24 points senior guard Leonard Hopkins scored for the Mean Green in a historic win for UNT.

The Mean Green had not won at NMSU in 31 years.

Watson enters UNT’s game against Denver ranked second in the team in scoring with an average of 13.8 points a game.

For his performance against NMSU, Watson is the Denton-Record Chronicle’s UNT Player of the Week.

7-day schedule

Thursday

Women’s basketball: Denver, 7 p.m.; Men’s basketball: at Denver, 7:30 p.m.

Friday

Swimming: UNT vs. Houston, SMU

Saturday

Women’s basketball: Florida International, 7 p.m.

Monday

Men’s basketball: At Florida International, 7 p.m.