DMN article on NT win over Webber State, Kim

[OldTimer]

UNT women hold on for one-point win

01/08/2003

By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News

DENTON – North Texas coach Tina Slinker let out a huge sigh of relief after the Lady Eagles' 66-65 win over Weber State on Tuesday night at the Super Pit.

UNT never trailed and led by as many as 11 points in the second half. Yet the game came down to a pair of missed free throws by Weber State guard Julie Gjertsen with 1.7 seconds on the clock – the only misses the Wildcats had in 14 attempts from the line.

"Were we lucky or what?" Slinker asked.

Weber State (8-4), coming off an NCAA Tournament berth last season, had won six in a row.

The Lady Eagles (6-6), who switched to a post-oriented offense after a recent stretch of six losses in seven games, got results.

Power forward Kim Blanton, who came off the bench for the first time this season, scored a game-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Center Vilma Grismanauskaite added a season-high 13 points, and power forward Emily Britt added 11 points.

"We're clicking right now, at the right time," said Grismanauskaite, who had seven rebounds. "Our team is starting to come together."

North Texas 66, Weber State 65

Weber State (8-4) – Sampson 2-2 2-2 6, Howe 6-11 3-3 15, Hesselbach 1-1 0-0 2, Gjertsen 5-16 2-4 16, Muller 1-5 1-1 3, Gardner-Clyder 3-5 2-2 8, Robertson 4-15 2-2 13, Hansen 0-1 0-0 0, Tukuafu 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 23-58 12-14 65.

North Texas (6-6) – Britt 4-9 3-4 11, Lewis 2-7 0-0 4, Grismanauskaite 4-9 5-6 13, Bobo 4-7 1-4 9, Trout 3-7 2-2 8, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Blanton 6-11 5-8 17, Armstrong 1-3 0-0 2, M. Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Haskin 0-0 0-0 0, J. Williams 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-54 16-24 66.

Halftime – UNT 37, Weber St. 30. 3-point goals – Weber St. 7-28 (Gjertsen 4-11, Muller 0-2, Gardner-Clyder 0-2, Robertson 3-13), UNT 0-6 (Lewis 0-1, Bobo 0-3, Trout 0-2). Fouled out – Weber St. (Sampson, Howe). UNT – None. Rebounds – Weber St. 34 (Howe, Gardner-Clyder 7), UNT 37 (Bobo 7). Assists – Weber St. 7 (Muller 4), UNT 11 (Lewis 5). Total fouls – Weber St. 18, UNT 17. A – 313.

[CMJ]

As I said earlier, Slinker seems to be turning the squad around. They are growing up in front of us.

We can still challenege for our side of conference.

[UNTLifer]

This was a great win. It's just too bad more people aren't familiar with the quality of Weber State's program and what a big step in the right direction this was for us.