DENTON (12/30/04) The Mean Green’s second half comeback came up short in a 59-55 loss to Texas-Arlington on Thursday night in a women’s basketball contest at the Super Pit.

The Mean Green (5-6) lost its second straight game, while Texas-Arlington (5-5) improved its record to .500. The Mavericks hold the advantage in the series, 20-19.

After trailing in the first half, North Texas regained the lead with a few defensive plays but was unable to hold the advantage down the stretch. The Mean Green came within two points of UTA, 57-55, with 9.3 seconds left in the game but turned over the ball to the Mavericks who ran out the clock.

Erika Bobo led the Mean Green squad with 15 points. It was her ninth game in double figures. Mian Williams and Erica Howard both chipped in 12 points. The 12 points was a career high for Howard.

The Mean Green whittled the Mavericks lead to two, 37-35, after a 10-2 run at the start of the second half. Bobo gave NT its first lead, 42-40, since the opening moments of the game with 8:10 left in the game. The point guard forced a steal, went the length of the court and converted her second layup after collecting her own rebound on the initial miss.

Sophomore Kelsie Edwards responded with another NT steal on the Maverick’s next possession and dished the ball to Mia Ajekwu for a layup to put the Mean Green up by four, 44-40. Bobo gave the Mean Green its largest lead, 46-40, with 7:16 left in the game.

Texas-Arlington took the lead for the final time, 49-48, with 3:25 on the clock. The Mavericks led by four, 57-53, with 26 seconds left before Edwards closed the gap to two with a layup.

Texas-Arlington led by as much as 11 points in the first half, 20-9, before settling for a 30-23 advantage at intermission. The Mavericks were 15-for-20 from the free throw line, while the Mean Green connected only 13-of-23 from the stripe.

North Texas returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 2 when it faces Texas A&M in College Station at 2:30 p.m.