DENTON – North Texas closed out 2018 along with their nonconference slate in a dominating 93-52 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State and set several season-highs as well as a career scoring performance by Deja Terrell Saturday afternoon inside The Super Pit.
 
Terrell recorded 16 points and added seven rebounds in 16 minutes of play, while Charlene Shepherd came close to a double-double with 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds. Brittany Smith tallied season-highs of eight assists and seven rebounds, and Madison Townley collected a season-best dozen boards. Anisha George posted 14 points and eight rebounds, and Grace Goodhart registered 10 points. 
 
"I'm really proud of the team. We were balanced in about every area. I love the energy we got from a lot of different people. A lot of people stepped in and stepped up and did what they are capable of doing," head coach Jalie Mitchell said. 
 
North Texas (7-5, 0-0 C-USA) collected team season-highs of 83 shots and 32 free throw attempts while forcing a season-best 24 turnovers. UNT ripped down 62 rebounds against the Aggies (7-5, 3-1 SAC) for the fifth highest single-game total in program history, and the plus-32 rebound margin is their best performance in 2018-19. The 62 rebounds rank as the third-highest output in C-USA this season.
 
It took a bit for the Mean Green to get going as OPSU held an 11-10 advantage through the first media timeout before 12 straight points put UNT up, 23-11, following two free throws by Trena Mims to begin the second quarter. Two from the line by Smith extended the lead to 36-16 midway through the period, and a layup by Callie Owens kept UNT ahead by 20 heading into halftime.
 
A fast break layup by Townley pushed the lead to 55-32 at the 5:12 mark of the third quarter before six straight Aggie points cut the margin to 17. The Mean Green responded with an 11-0 run that included a lob score in the paint and a three-pointer by Terrell to close the period with UNT leading 66-38. 
 
"I really focused on staying in the game and doing what I needed to do," Terrell said. "We have been playing off each other very well."
 
A jumper by Smith, a pair of free throws from Tatum Henderson, and a fastbreak layup by Terrell stretched the lead to 76-42 with 7:24 to play. Orianna Shillow converted a bucket while being fouled for a 40-point UNT lead, and Velma Mitchell registered the final points of the contest with a three-pointer.
 
"I like our performance from a confidence standpoint," Coach Mitchell said. "It's a great way to go into conference play."
 
The Mean Green open Conference USA play at LA Tech Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m.