Women's Hoops Can't Handle WKU Second Half Surge
Lady Toppers Score 50 in Final 20 to Down Mean Green
DENTON - It was truly a tale of two halves for the North Texas women's basketball team on Thursday. The Mean Green led for more than 17 minutes in the first half and held Western Kentucky to 32 percent shooting before the Hilltopper offense came to life in the second half. WKU used 50 second-half points to take down North Texas, 77-49.
It was a tough WKU defense that made the difference on Thursday. Using a speedy full-court press and a pesky half-court zone look, the Hilltoppers forced 28 turnovers and tallied 19 steals.
"You can't win a college basketball game with 28 turnovers, especially against a team that turns turnovers into points," head coach Mike Petersen said. "We got a little rattled to begin the second half ... they had 30 points off turnovers and we got beat by 28."
After an early injury left her unable to walk off the court, the Mean Green was without senior Briesha Wynn for all but eight early minutes. The absence of the team's leading scorer and rebounder proved costly for North Texas as WKU's dominant frontcourt had its way in the paint. Hilltoppers forwards Alexis Govan, Bria Gaines and Chastity Gooch combined for 42 of the team's points.
BreAnna Dawkins was one of the lone bright spots for North Texas. The senior was the only Mean Green player to finish in double digits as she scored 14 total points. Sophomore Candice Adams added seven points, while redshirt sophomore Eboniey Jeter and junior Kasiney Williams each notched six points a piece. Ten Mean Green players scored on the day.
North Texas now prepares to host the Marshall Thundering Herd at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Super Pit.
"The great thing about basketball is you don't have time to pout," Petersen said. "We'll come back tomorrow, watch film and get prepared. If we play hard for 40 minutes we'll have every opportunity to win."
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