BOWLING GREEN, Kent. (2/11/06) The North Texas women’s basketball team threatened to snap Western Kentucky’s 10-game home winning streak, but the Hilltoppers were able to hold off the Mean Green 84-70 on Saturday at E.A. Diddle Arena.

 

The Mean Green had a two-game winning steak snapped, but still holds a 17-7 overall record and 7-5 mark in Sun Belt action.  The Hilltoppers defeated North Texas for the fourth consecutive time and ran their winning streak to seven games, improving to 18-5 overall and 8-2 in conference games.

 

Trailing 42-48 with 16:26 left in the game, North Texas went on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 54-50 lead.  The Mean Green held its last advantage at 57-56 just over midway through the second half before Western Kentucky went on an 11-0 run to open a double-figure lead that gave it control of the game with 5:30 remaining in the contest.

 

North Texas was able to cut its deficit to seven points three different times after that, but couldn’t get any closer.

 

"I was proud of the way we were able to play with one of the best teams in the league for about 35 minutes," said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker.  "Porter-Talbert took over and that is what seniors are supposed to do."

 

Both teams shot well from the floor as North Texas finished with a .463 field goal percentage and WKU with a .492 mark.  The Hilltoppers capitalized at the free throw line, converting 23-of-27 attempts for an .853 percentage.  NT hit 15-of-20 shots at the charity stripe.

 

Both teams finished with 33 rebounds, but the Mean Green committed 12 more turnovers than WKU.

 

The Mean Green was led by two players scoring in double figures, led by Mia Ajekwu with 19 points.  Mian Williams followed Ajekwu with 12 points and Erika Bobo chipped in nine.  Paced by Tiffany Porter-Talbert with a game-high 24 points, the Hilltoppers had five players reach double figures in the scoring column.

 

North Texas does not play again until next Saturday when it faces Denver in the second of four consecutive road games to close out the regular season.  The Mean Green and Pioneers will tip at 8 p.m. (CST).