BOCA RATON, Fla. (1/19/08) Amber Jackson was a one-woman wrecking crew, paving the way for a 74-66 Mean Green win at Florida Atlantic on Saturday.

Jackson scored the final eight points of the first half, and the first six points of the second to open a double-digit North Texas (9-10, 4-3) lead that Florida Atlantic (4-12, 0-7) wouldn’t overcome.

Jackson was just a point shy of her career high with 22 total points, good for her third career 20-point outing and fifth consecutive game in double figures.

The Mean Green has now won three straight Sun Belt games for the first time in three seasons, and is back in the driver’s seat in the conference race.

Brittney James, Erica Howard and Jo Hall joined Jackson in double-figures for North Texas. Hall tallied her second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Owls hung step for step with the Mean Green until the forward trio of Jo Hall, Erica Howard and Jackson charged the NT offense mid-first half.

Hall broke an early tie with four straight points, and Howard and Jackson had the hot hands in the opening frame. The combo teamed up for nine and 12 first-half points respectively against the Owls.  

FAU chipped at the Mean Green lead late, and went in front on a Brittany Bowe 3-pointer with just under three minutes remaining. But the lead was short lived as Jackson reeled off the final eight points of the half to send North Texas into the break with a 33-29 advantage.

The Mean Green forced 15 Owl turnovers and turned it into 19 Mean Green points, and dominated the paint with 34 points down low.

The Mean Green takes a week off before returning to action at Middle Tennessee on Jan. 26.