06 Feb 2013
Sports Editor
Audra Stamp / Intern
Taking home much-needed wins in its last two games, the UNT women’s basketball team has momentum heading into tonight’s home game against Western Kentucky University.
“I think our confidence is really good and it should be, we’re playing well,” head coach Mike Petersen said.
UNT (8-5, 9-13) traveled to WKU in December, but fell 82-80. WKU (9-3, 16-5) outscored the team in the first half, but UNT fought back and outscored the Hilltoppers in the second. Although it was a close game down the stretch, the Mean Green allowed sophomore guard Alexis Govan to score 40 points.
“Basically, she penetrated baseline every time, so we have to cut off the baseline,” junior guard Laura McCoy said. “She likes to get to the basket.”
In the previous game against WKU, the younger UNT players worked hard on the court. Sophomore guard BreAnna Dawkins and freshman forward Alexis Hyder led the team in scoring with 22 and 18 points, respectively. Freshman guard Loryn Goodwin played tough defense and picked up seven steals.
“I really thank my teammates a lot for putting me in a position to be able to get steals and do the things that I do,” Goodwin said. “Even though we’re young, we work just as hard as the upper classmen.”
Petersen emphasized WKU’s threats and scoring ability to the team this week.
WKU is also leading the conference in steals and turnovers forced per game. UNT gave up 24 turnovers in the previous game against WKU.
The team has placed a lot of importance on maintaining possession of the ball.
“We’d like to have less than 15 turnovers as a team,” Petersen said. “If we can value the ball, that can really help us.”
With WKU coming off of a loss, the Mean Green hopes to pull out a win, despite the fact that WKU has a 7-3 overall away game record. The game will tip off at 5 p.m. in the Super Pit.
