LAFAYETTE, La. (1/7/06) In dominating fashion the North Texas women’s basketball team ended the nation's fifth longest home winning streak with a 70-47 rout of Louisiana-Lafayette at the Earl K. Long Gym. The win is the fifth straight for North Texas (12-2, 2-0) and ends the Ragin Cajun’s 22-game home winning streak.

“We knew about their streak and had heard a lot about it and that really motivated us,” said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker. “This team really went out and answered the challenge”.

North Texas took command of the game early with a 12-4 run capped off by freshman Sanetra Jackson’s 3-pointer to make it 16-9 with 11:41 left in the first half. The Mean Green kept the Cajuns’ offense at bay in the first half and closed with a 14-2 run to take a 32-15 lead into the break.

North Texas shot 43 percent in the first half and held Louisiana-Lafayette (11-3, 1-1) to 22 percent shooting in the first half as the Cajuns were only 1-14 to close the half from the floor.

North Texas didn’t let up in the second half pushing their lead to 43-21 with 15:27 left in the game. The Mean Green lead got to as many as 25 points in the second half as the Ragin Cajun’s never threatened North Texas.

“We really played a 40 minute game and took control of this game early,” said Slinker. “There are a very explosive team and we never let them get a change to get back in the game and I was very pleased with that”.

Junior Mia Ajekwu led North Texas with 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench. North Texas outscored the Ragin Cajun bench 31-0 for the game.

The Mean Green owned the boards with a 49-34 rebounding edge in the game keyed by 12 from freshman Amber Jackson. Yolanda Jones led the Cajuns with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but 18 of her 20 points came in the second half with the game decided.  

The win gives the Mean Green its 11^th win in its past 12 games and the second 2-0 start to begin Sun Belt Conference play since joining the league. North Texas has its best record in school history after 14 games and is off to their best start in school history on the road at 4-1.

The Mean Green return home for two straight beginning on January 12 against the Denver Pioneers.