DENTON  (2/7/04) - The Mean Green women’s basketball team held off a late rally by New Mexico State to win 54-52 in Sun Belt Conference action at the Super Pit.

"We got a little cautious in the second half and allowed them to get back in the game," said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker. "This was an important win for us, our ladies have been involed in some close game this season and it was good to us hang on and get the win tonight".

With the win, North Texas (9-12, 5-4) moves into a second-place tie with UL-Lafayette in the Sun Belt Conference. New Mexico State (10-11, 4-5) fall into a tie for fourth.

The Mean Green have now played in six games this season that have been decided by two points. North Texas is 4-2 in those matches. Defensively, the Mean Green has held six of its last seven opponents to under 60 points.

The Mean Green, who led by as much as 18 points at the start of second half, scored only one point in the final four minutes of the game. With North Texas up 53-41, New Mexico scored nine unanswered points to bring themselves within three, 53-50, with 54 seconds left in the game. Princess Moore scored six of her team-high 17 points in the late-game Aggie run.

New Mexico State missed a three-point attempt in a final possession that would have tied the game. After being fouled, junior Jill Medlock connected on 1-of-2 free throws to seal the Mean Green victory. Medlock finished the game with 12 points, including two 3-pointers. She moved into sole possession of sixth place on the North Texas single-season list. She needs two 3-pointers to move ahead of Nicole Thomas in the fifth slot.

Freshman Kelsie Edwards led North Texas with 16 points, the second-highest point total of her career. She scored 14 points in the second half, including 11 in a four-minute span.

New Mexico State scored the first basket of the game, but it was all North Texas after the Aggies’ initial score. The Mean Green went on a 18-7 run midway through the first half to take a 26-13 lead with 5:38 left till intermission.

North Texas returns to action on February 12 at Middle Tennessee