University of North Texas Athletics

DENTON – North Texas women's basketball pulled out a 56-53 victory over North Alabama Friday night inside The Super Pit to advance to the championship game of the Women's Basketball Invitational in a balanced attack from the Mean Green. 
 
Brittany Smith scored a season-high 10 points, and Callie Owens also added 10 to share UNT scoring honors. Madison Townley was a force on both ends of the court by grabbing a career-best 14 rebounds, scoring seven points and drawing nine fouls, including taking a crucial charge late in the game. 
 
"I was really proud of this team for 40 minutes," head coach Jalie Mitchell said. "We were gritty and gutsy. We did what we needed to pull this out. This team has stepped up in every way and made the adjustments."
 
The Mean Green (18-15) trailed, 53-52, with less than a minute to play before Terriell Bradley sliced through the lane and connected for a one-point UNT advantage with 25 seconds on the clock. North Alabama (21-9) looked to counter on their next possession, but Townley thwarted that by taking a charge to hand the ball back to the Mean Green. The Lions then fouled Townley on the other end, and she hit one-of-two for a 55-53 advantage. 
 
North Alabams put up a 3-pointer from the baseline that was off the mark and corralled by Townley who was again fouled. Townley made the first attempt as North Alabama grabbed the miss on the second and called a timeout. The Mean Green defense made it difficult for the Lions to get off a good shot as the final attempt sailed wide.
 
Smith gained her first points on a shot from the left elbow for an early UNT lead at 6-2. An up-and-under move from Deja Terrell put North Texas ahead, 13-10, and another crafty move in the paint by Terrell placed the lead at 17-15 at the end of the first.
 
Trena Mims hit consecutive jumpers from the left baseline to increase the margin to 26-21, and Smith added another for a seven-point lead. A North Alabama score in the paint along with a pair of free throws cut the Lion deficit to 28-25 at the half.
 
Two straight North Alabama field goals midway through the third had the Lions in front at 33-30 before a 3 from Owens bounced around and in. Mims then found Charlene Shepherd for a three-point play, and Owens connected on a baseline drive for a 38-33 UNT lead with 2:24 left in the period.
 
The Mean Green await their championship opponent as Campbell plays at Appalachian State Saturday evening. With a Campbell victory, UNT will host Tuesday night. If Appalachian State wins, North Texas will play their final contest in Boone, North Carolina.   
 
"A championship is another piece of history I'd love for this team to accomplish. I know this team is going to give everything they have," Mitchell said.