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NORTH TEXAS BASKETBALL NOTESUNT women in race for West Division titleBy JEFF WILSONStar-Telegram Staff WriterDENTON - The theory is simple. The method is difficult.

The North Texas women will achieve their top goal this season -- winning the West Division title -- if they win their final two Sun Belt Conference games.

Both games are on the road, beginning Thursday at Troy and ending Saturday at South Alabama. UNT (17-8, 7-6 Sun Belt) beat both teams last month at the Super Pit, including a 25-point victory over the Trojans (9-15, 3-10).

But in order for UNT to march on to South Alabama (14-11, 8-5) with its title hopes alive, Troy must fall.

"I haven't even begun to look at South Alabama," Mean Green coach Tina Slinker said.

"We played [Troy] really well last time defensively. Their post play has gotten better, so I think we can convince [our players] that it wasn't a 71-46 contest."

UNT has lost back-to-back road games despite 36 points by junior Mia Ajekwu and a 17-rebound game by senior Erika Bobo. Slinker said the veteran players realize their UNT legacies could hinge on the final two games.

"We couldn't ask for a better opportunity," she said. "We need to find that fortitude on the road. I think they want it, but now it's just a matter of actually stepping up and doing it."

Men's skid continues

UNT's men have lost six consecutive Sun Belt games but could still finish as high as second in the West with road wins in their final two games.

The Mean Green (13-12, 5-8) hasn't won a league game since beating Troy on Jan. 26.

UNT hopes to end the skid Thursday at Troy, which is tied with UNT for third in the division.

A win over the Trojans and a second victory against West winner South Alabama could catapult the Mean Green into second place and give UNT a valuable bye into the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt tournament March 3-7.

Coach Johnny Jones said he and his staff have tried to remind the players of what can be accomplished rather than dwell on the losing streak.

"There's a lot to play for this weekend," Jones said. "Players are getting ready for the next game. Once the competition starts, you're competing for that game and putting other ones behind you."

Briefly

Erika Bobo needs seven points to become the 10th player in UNT women's history to score 1,000 in a career. She'll become the only player to register 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals.

Senior guard Isaac Hines needs four steals to become the first player in men's history to record 50 in back-to-back seasons. He recorded 60 last season.

ONLINE: meangreensports.com

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Jeff Wilson, (817) 390-7953 jwilson@star-telegram.com