UAB Game Notes 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The North Texas women's basketball team travels to play UAB February 11 at Bartow Arena with a lot at stake. Although the Mean Green is coming off a huge, 45-42 win against Marshall to break a six-game losing streak, the team stands at 3-18 on the season, which includes a 2-8 mark in Conference USA play.

That 2-8 record is tied with Rice for 12th in the league, and only the top 12 out of 14 C-USA teams make it back to Birmingham for the tournament beginning March 11. With FIU boasting an 0-10 mark in 14th place and UTEP holding a 4-7 record in 11th place, it will probably be down to the Mean Green and the Owls to decide who gets a shot at the title and who gets left out.

Head coach Mike Petersen knows that a few more wins are necessary to make it back to the "Pittsburgh of the South" a month from today.

"You have to be realistic about where you are in the standings and what you're ultimately trying to accomplish," he said. "A win against UAB would be a big step in the right direction, there's no question."

There is also no question about the importance of the Mean Green defense and how well it played against the Thundering Herd. North Texas held Marshall 26 points below its season average of 68.1 points coming into the game; in its three wins, the team has given up only 45.7 points per game, while in its 18 losses it has allowed 62 per game.

The Blazers are no offensive powerhouse, as they have not eclipsed 73 points so far this season and were held to 39 in a five-point loss at Southern Miss February 7 in Hattiesburg. Regardless, UAB is 12-10 overall and 6-5 in C-USA play due in large part to its defense, which allows a league-best 57.9 points per game.

In other words, buckle up for a hard-nosed battle. Tip off is at 7 p.m. Thursday evening.