DENTON, Texas (12/30/08) The North Texas women’s basketball team rings in the New Year with a key Sun Belt Conference matchup against Middle Tennessee today at the Super Pit. The Mean Green looks to get back to its winning ways after dropping its last game to No. 21 Oklahoma State. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. and the game can be heard on 88.1 FM KNTU.

One area that Shanice Stephens has focused on is getting turnovers and mistakes and the Mean Green is producing in that area. Through the first 12 games, North Texas has 135 steals and is on pace to challenge the school record.

North Texas is on pace for 350 steals this season, which would be the third most in school history. More impressive is that number would be the most steals in a single season for North Texas in over 21 years.

North Texas has dropped two straight games and in both they have allowed 80 points or more. The Mean Green is 4-1 this season when allowed 70 points or less but 1-6 when allowing more than 70 points this season.  In terms of field goal percentage is 3-1 when holding its opponent to less than 40 percent this season but only 2-6 when allowing better than 40 percent shooting this season.

Amber Jackson’s streak of eight straight double-doubles came on an end against Oklahoma State as she had 10 points but only six rebounds. Jackson’s double-double run was the best by a North Texas player since Clara Campbell had a school record nine in during the 1985-86 season.

Jackson did score in double figures for the 58th time in her career against Oklahoma State.

For her career Jackson has 12 career double-doubles and is still averaging a double-double for the season. She could still become the first player since Campbell to average a double-double for the season. Campbell averaged 15.4 points and 10.0 rebounds a game in the 1986-87 season, the last player to do so.