Sophomore guard Candice Adams calls out a play on offense against SMU // Photo Credit: DFW Sports Online

Boxscore 

Season Stats 

DALLAS -- Looking for its first win at SMU since 1989, the Mean Green was not able to knock off the Mustangs December 3, as they lost by a score of 62-55. Not only was North Texas hoping to knock the monkey off its back against SMU in Moody Coliseum, but the team also wanted to finally put one in the win column on the season.

Unfortunately for the Mean Green, the Mustangs pulled away late with good free throw shooting and tough defense. Meanwhile, North Texas missed its last four free throws and struggled to execute down the stretch.

"Right now as a group, we just haven't become competitively mature enough that when the game is on the line, we make plays," head coach Mike Petersen said of his team's play down the stretch. "If you're gonna win those close games, you're gonna have to win those mini-possessions at the end of games."

Senior forward Briesha Wynn led North Texas with 17 points, and also added seven rebounds. It was the fifth time in five games this season that she has scored in double figures.

After trailing 30-29 at halftime, SMU scored the first five points of the second half to get out to a six-point lead, but the Mean Green fought back and it was a back-and-forth contest the rest of the way.

Wynn made a layup with 5:57 remaining to tie the game at 51, but North Texas scored only four points in the final six minutes, including being held scoreless for the final three minutes. Overall, the Mean Green lost its fifth game of the season by 10 points or fewer, and is now 0-5.

"I'm disappointed for us, but I'm not discouraged. We're doing too many things right to be discouraged," Petersen evaluated. "It's not acceptable that we're 0-5, but we've done a lot of things right and we need to keep building on those."

Senior forward Joh'Vonna Darrington returned to action after missing two straight games due to injury, she tallied a career-high eight rebounds and tied a career-high with two blocks. She fouled out with 1:02 to play after 31 big minutes in the front court.

Next up for North Texas

North Texas will face the Oklahoma Sooners at the Super Pit, Sunday December 7 at 11 a.m.

Mean Green Quick Hitters

SMU now boasts a 29-16 series advantage over the Mean Green and has won three consecutive meetings.

Sophomore guard Candice Adams led North Texas with three assists. It was the first time this season senior guard BreAnna Dawkins did not have the most dimes on the team.

With 10 points, redshirt sophomore forward Eboniey Jeter reached double-figures for the third time this season. She had two such games all of last season.

Freshman forward Alicia Froling led the Mustangs with a big stat line of 14 points on 6-9 shooting, eight rebounds and four blocks.