DENTON - The North Texas women suffered through 40 minutes of frustration and futility Thursday night, unable to find any offense in a game in which it trailed by double digits most of the night.
In one of their worst shooting nights of the season, the Mean Green made just 25 percent of their field goal attempts through three quarters in a 65-48 loss to Old Dominion at the Super Pit. No North Texas player reached double figures in scoring until the 6:28 mark of the fourth quarter.
A tenacious Mean Green defense slowed the Monarchs at times, held Conference USA's leading scorer, ODU's Jennie Simms, under her season average and allowed North Texas to entertain hopes of a second-half rally. But brief, fleeting bursts of offense were all North Texas (8-13 on the year, 3-8 in CUSA play) could generate, never enough to seriously threaten the Monarchs (11-12, 7-4).
North Texas, which has lost four straight and six of seven, was also at a big disadvantage in rebounds, 48-31.
"The first half we could not make layups," North Texas coach Jalie Mitchell said. "The offense was working, we just weren't finishing."
Both teams got off to frigid starts shooting, combining to hit just three of the first 14 field-goal attempts. But it was ODU that thawed first, going on a 17-0 run in the first quarter to open a 17-2 lead.
The Mean Green, meanwhile, could find no solution to their scoring woes in the first half. North Texas got a brief scoring run - led by four points from Achiel Tac - to pull within nine at 19-10 before the offense again went cold. Nothing would fall for the Mean Green, inside or out. The Mean Green made just five of 28 shots (17.9 percent), were out-rebounded 28-18 and had their lowest scoring half of the season.
The North Texas defense did an admirable job against a potent ODU attack, limiting the Monarchs to just 36.4 percent shooting in the opening half. Nonetheless, the deficit ballooned to 24 points at intermission, 37-13.
The lead grew to as much as 29 before North Texas closed to within 15 points twice in the second half. The Mean Green's leading scorer was Kelsey Criner with 11.
Quick Hits
• Candice Adams made a three-point field goal Thursday, the 84th of her career to tie her with Ramona Black for seventh place all-time at North Texas. In sixth place on the all-time list, at 87 threes, is North Texas coach Jalie Mitchell.
• North Texas has made a three-point field goal in every game this season.
What's Next
North Texas hosts Charlotte on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Super Pit.
