KANSAS CITY, Missouri (11/22/08) Brittney James scored a game-high 23 points and Amber Jackson recorded a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) to help Shanice Stephens and the Mean Green record their first win of the season in a 80-74 victory over University of Missouri-Kansas City.

After a high scoring first half, North Texas (1-1) held the Kangaroos to only 30 percent shooting from the field and 34 points in the second half. North Texas never trailed after gaining a 21-19 lead at the 10:06 mark and eventually pushed their first half lead to points before they went into the half with a 45-40 lead.

The Mean Green came out of the gates strong in the second half by going on a 14-7 run that was capped by a Brittani Bailey jumper to extend North Texas’ lead to 59-47. Bailey had her best game of the season with 11 points in 20 minutes of action.

UMKC (1-2) made a run late by trimming the lead to 78-74 with 39 seconds remaining but never got any closer as James made two clutch free throws to secure the win.

Overall North Texas shot 53 percent from the field, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Yari Escalera and Mansa El also were key components in the win with 9 and 8 points respectively.

North Texas will continue their five-game road trip Monday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a 7 p.m. tipoff.