DENTON (11/2/05) The North Texas women’s basketball team defeated the Houston Jaguars, 87-56, behind a balanced attack in the Mean Green’s first exhibition game of the 2005-06 season on Wednesday night in the Super Pit.

The Mean Green won its first exhibition game after losing to the Jaguars in the opening preseason game of the 2004-05 season.

Nine North Texas players scored six points or more, and five Mean Green athletes pulled down six or more rebounds. Erica Howard was the leading scorer with 14 points, including eight points from the free-throw line. Erika Bobo followed with 12 tallies.

The Mean Green dominated on the boards with freshman Ashley Vation leading the charge with nine rebounds. She also chipped in eight points. As a team, NT outrebounded the Jaguars, 64-39.

North Texas jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back. Natalie Mireles started the game with a three-pointer and sank a second one to make it 10-2. She finished the game with eight points.

The Mean Green quickly sped out to a double-digit lead and entered half ahead, 43-21. After a free throw by Howard, NT held its largest lead  of the game, 66-29, with 10:21 left in the second half.

NT coaches used 12 players in the game and tried out various lineups during the second half. In addition to the start by Vation, freshmen Sanetra Jackson and Jo Hall both saw playing time.

North Texas returns to action on Friday, November 9 when it faces the Oklahoma Flyers at 5 pm in the Super Pit.