22 Jan 2013
Sports Editor
Tim Cato / Senior Staff Writer
Scoring an average of 70.9 points per game, the Mean Green women’s basketball team possesses the fourth best offense in the Sun Belt. One of the main reasons behind its success is the team’s deadly three-point shooting.
Shooting involves both quality and quantity. Some teams can hit a high percentage, while others are good at hitting a high number of three-pointers. UNT does both.
So far this season, the Mean Green has knocked down 31.6 percent of its three point shots, making it the third best in the Sun Belt Conference. In recent conference games, the team has upped that number to 36.3 percent.
UNT has made 100 threes this season, which is also third best in the Sun Belt, but both of the teams ahead of the Mean Green shoot at a lower percentage. There are teams with better quality or quantity, but UNT has the best combination of the two.
“We have kids making shots,” head coach Mike Petersen said. “We’ve got an inside presence, and now we’ve got an outside presence, so you have to guard in and out.”
Seven players on the team have made a three-pointer this season, but two in particular stand out above the others. Sophomore guard Loryn Goodwin and senior guard Laura McCoy exhibit both the quality and quantity that has made the Mean Green dangerous from the outside.
Goodwin said she accepts three-point shooting as her “identity,” even though it’s relatively new to her.
“When I was younger, I never really shot jumpers,” she said. “When I got to high school, I had to pick it up a little bit.”
She said she would practice all day in high school until she perfected the shooting form her coaches taught her. She currently ranks eighth in shooting percentage and third in total shots made in the Sun Belt.
McCoy’s background is very different from Goodwin’s. She started playing basketball in third grade and was taught to shoot by her father. McCoy is currently ninth in shooting percentage and is tied for fourth in total shots made in the SBC.
She is also fourth in UNT history all-time in three-pointers made and lacks 92 shots to take the top spot, currently held by Ashley Norris. Despite the chance at history, McCoy said she does not focus on the personal accolade.
“It’s exciting, but I don’t really think about it too much,” she said. “I just go out there and shoot when I’m open.”
Fans will get the chance to see the team’s accuracy from behind the arc in it’s next game against Middle Tennessee on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Super Pit.
