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#COMMITTED North Texas Embarks On Its Most Anticipated Season

After a promising 2015-16 season, which saw the Mean Green more than double their win total from the previous season, the team prepares for its second year under head coach Jalie Mitchell. Loaded with a deep, talented roster of returners and newcomers, North Texas is pursuing the goal of winning 20 games and a Conference USA championship.

2015-16 CLIFF NOTES

  1. Improved its field goal percentage from 2014-15 by an NCAA-best 7.23 percent
  2. Averaged 9.5 more points per game than the year before
  3. Averaged 4.3 more assists per game than the year before
  4. Defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in the program's history
  5. Beat Metroplex-rival SMU for the first time since 2011
  6. Won a Conference USA Tournament game for the first time in the school's history
  7. Recruited four transfers from power-five conferences and three are eligible this season
  8. Picked to finish 6th in 2016 C-USA preseason poll after finishing 13th the year before
  9. Return three of their top-four scorers, including leading scorer Kelsey Criner
  10. Invited to play in the prestigious Preseason WNIT

2015-16 In Review

North Texas 61, No. 17 Oklahoma 57

Mitchell's head coaching career started off with a bang. On Nov. 16, she collected her first win as a head coach with a program-first, as the team beat No. 17 Oklahoma on the road. Led by Terra Ellison's 15 points, a Mean Green women's basketball team beat a ranked opponent for the first time.

"We couldn't have come away with that win without our team believing. They believed they could win and they did everything they could possibly do to come out on top of that game. I was really proud of them. They always play hard and their unity was there but they believed in each other and they worked as a team. It was a big-time win for our program." - Jalie Mitchell

North Texas 70, SMU 67

North Texas' first home win under Mitchell came against Metroplex rival SMU. It was far from easy, though, as the Mean Green's early lead evaporated in the second half. North Texas point guard Kelsey Criner kept the Mustangs from taking the lead with what at the time was a career-best 17 points and 8 rebounds. As a team, the Mean Green held SMU to 38 percent shooting while also forcing 19 turnovers. North Texas hadn't beaten the Mustangs since 2011.

THIS TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON OVERCOMING ADVERSITY, ON TAKING A PUNCH AND BEING ABLE TO PUNCH RIGHT BACK." - JALIE MITCHELL

North Texas 68, UTSA 58

On the first day of 2016, North Texas opened C-USA play with a 10-point victory over Texas San Antonio. The home win over the Roadrunners gave the Mean Green a 6-5 overall record, it's first winning record since November of 2013. In the game with UTSA, Criner again flexed her versatility with a team-high 23 points and also lead the team with five rebounds and five steals.

"I think the big start was huge for our team. If you can start and finish well, you can win a game. This was probably our most consistent game." - Jalie mitchell

North Texas 79, FAU 74

Despite only winning two of their final 10 regular season games, North Texas bounced back to knock off the higher seeded Florida Atlantic Owls in the first round of the C-USA tournament for its first postseason win since the 2011-12 season. The Mean Green only played seven players in the game and still managed to hold off the conference's top 3-point shooting team by having five players score in double figures and sinking 10 3-pointers of their own. The Owls' Allie Gorrell scored 30 second half points but a late 3-pointer from North Texas' Terra Ellison ended up being the dagger as the Mean Green won their first C-USA tournament game.

"If you look at the stat sheet, it's pretty balanced and everybody stepped up and did something to help us advance. Everything that we did helped us to get to this point" - Jalie Mitchell

2016-17 SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE NOTES

  • 13 home games
  • Longest home stand: three games (twice), 12/22/16-1/1/17, 1/14/17-1/21/17
  • Longest road trip: four games, 2/16/17-2/25/17
  • Seven of final 11 regular season games are on the road
  • Second time North Texas has been invited to the Preseason WNIT (2006). Five of 16 teams in this year's field reached the 2016 NCAA Tournament
  • This will be the 23rd all-time meeting between North Texas and their former Sun Belt foe Arkansas-Little Rock
  • The Mean Green's home game versus Indiana will be the first time since 2003 the two schools have played one another
  • On Nov. 30, North Texas will travel to Metroplex-Rival SMU. If the Mean Green win, it will be the first time since 1982 they've beaten the Mustangs in consecutive seasons. They've played one another every year since 1982
  • North Texas only plays last season's C-USA regular season champion, UTEP, and C-USA tournament champion Middle Tennessee one time each. Both games are on the road
  • Two games scheduled for national television (1/21/17 vs. Louisiana Tech & 3/2/17 vs. W. Kentucky)
  • The Mean Green's 11/22/16 game at Arizona will be exactly 40 years since it's inaugural game in 1976 at Baylor

THE TEAM

THE SENIORS

CANDICE ADAMS #14

Senior guard Candice Adams returns after having a breakout junior year scoring 11 points per game and becoming a legitimate threat from beyond the arc. Her 49 made 3-pointers in 2015-16 were the eighth most in a single season in program history.

The Cedar Hill, Texas, native started every game she played in last season and compiled 18 double-digit scoring outings.

A 2016 Preseason C-USA First-Team nominee, Adams is just 353 points away from eclipsing 1,000 for her career. She'd be just the 14th North Texas player to do that.

TERRA ELLISON #20

The 5-foot-11 senior guard set new career highs in points and rebounds per game in 2015-16. Ellison averaged 10.1 PPG while grabbing 4.1 RPG.

Ellison had 15 double-digit scoring outings last season. Her season high was 18, which she did twice.

Ellison scored a team-leading 15 points in the Mean Green's road victory over No. 17 Oklahoma on Nov. 16. For her performance, she was named to the NCAA's Starting Five Players of the Week on Nov. 18.

KELSEY CRINER #3

It didn't take long for the New Mexico Junior College point guard transfer to show her versatility for the Mean Green. Criner scored 10 points, had 7 rebounds and 7 assists at No. 17 Oklahoma —the second game of the season.

On Dec. 10 against Incarnate Word, Criner had 11 assists to become the first North Texas player to dish out 10 or more assists in a game since Erika Bobo in 2002. Then on Jan. 10, Criner dropped 34 points at Rice to become the first Mean Green player to score 30 or more points in a game since 2010. She concluded her first season in Denton as the team's leading scorer with 13 points per game.

Criner ended the season with 149 assists and 78 steals, the second and eighth most, respectively, in a single season in program history. She was named C-USA First-Team All-Defense for her success.

THE JUNIORS

TOSIN MABODU #30

Mabodu joined North Texas last season as a sophomore transfer from Murray State College. The 6-foot-1 Chicago native saw her minutes increase in the second half of the season.

Mabodu played key minutes down the stretch and produced in big games last season. The post player scored a personal best eight points in a win at Marshall on Jan. 14. Furthermore, she pulled down seven rebounds in two separate games.

Mabodu played in 28 of the Mean Green's 30 games last season. Expected to see an increased role, Mabodu is competing with the other bigs for a starting job and starter minutes.

BRE MCDANIEL #22

In May of 2015, the Dallas native transferred from Minnesota to North Texas. McDaniel redshirted last season due to NCAA transfer rules but will be an important piece to the Mean Green hopes of a C-USA championship.

At Minnesota, the 5-foot-10 guard, appeared in 49 games over two seasons for the Golden Gophers. A dynamic scorer who can hit from anywhere on the court, McDaniel had numerous double-digit scoring outings in the Big Ten Conference.

Last season while sitting out and this year during practice, McDaniel immensely improved her shooting to become an all-around scorer. McDaniel combines athleticism, physicality, shooting ability and range to make her a dangerous threat on offense.

THE SOPHOMORES

TERRIELL BRADLEY #23

In May of 2015, Bradley transferred from Kansas to North Texas. She redshirted last season due to NCAA transfer rules, the dynamic guard will be a big part of the Mean Green roster.

In her year at Kansas, Bradley led the team with a 41 percent 3-point field goal percentage. She played in all 32 games and scored a career-high 22 points at Creighton on Dec 22. A strong ball handler with speed and shooting range, Bradley averaged 6.5 points per game.

Born in New Orleans and raised in Arlington, Bradley was ESPN's No. 56 ranked recruit in the country and No. 6 in Texas coming out of Mansfield Timberview High School in 2014. She was a three-time all-state selection and was named academic all-district three times.

MICAYLA BUCKNER #34

Buckner transferred to North Texas this year from Collin County Community College. Prior to Collin, the 6-foot-3 Buckner spent her first year at the Big 12 champion Baylor in 2015.

At CCCC, Buckner averaged 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The Garland native nearly shot 50 percent from the field and was ranked as high as the No. 3 best junior college post player in the nation.

Buckner has added much needed depth to the Mean Green post position and will also be looked upon to be a physical body in the front court.

ORIANNA SHILLOW #13

North Texas' lone walk on, Orianna Shillow, aka "O," joined the team last fall as a true freshman.

After making her debut at Texas State — the third game of the season — Shillow established herself as a spot up shooter for a team searching for depth.

On Jan. 30 against Rice, Shillow scored a team-leading 16 points. Her five 3-pointers in the game were the most made by a North Texas player in a single game all season and is tied for 10th all-time in program history for most 3-pointers made in a game.

TYARA WARREN #1

Warren transferred to North Texas in May of 2015 after one season at West Virginia. She sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules but will play a major role at guard for this year's Mean Green team.

At WVU, Warren played in 18 games averaging 2.4 points per game. She scored a career-high 10 points twice, at Marshall and at Oklahoma.

Warren, a Plano native, was three time all-district first team selection at Plano West Senior High School and was a McDonald's All-American nominee. A strong defensive guard that can matchup against a variety of players, on offense she's a guard that can both penetrate and shoot from range.

THE NEWCOMERS

GRACE GOODHART #2

Goodhart comes to North Texas as a transfer from Loyola University Chicago where she played one season. She will redshirt this coming season.

Last season the 5-foot-9 two-guard was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team. She played in all 30 games for the Ramblers while averaging 6.6 points and 1.1 assists per contest. Goodhart led Loyola with 40 made 3-pointers on the season, which would have been the second most on the Mean Green.

The Texas, native played her high school ball at Sunnyvale High School where she led her school to a Texas 3A state championship her senior season and was a high school McDonald's All-American nominee.

ADRIANNA HENDERSON #10

Freshman point guard Adrianna "AD" Henderson comes to Denton from Topeka, Kansas. The same hometown as North Texas assistant coach Aisha Stewart.

At Topeka High School, AD was the city scoring champion. She averaged more than 20 points per game in her junior and senior seasons. The four-year varsity starter scored a total of 1,248 points while in high school.

The four-time all-city honoree capped off her time at Topeka with two first-team selections. She added to that with First-Team All-Centennial League and Second-Team All-Class 6A honors.

HANNAH HOPKINS #15

The 6-foot-3 freshman post player arrives to North Texas from Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas. She is the tallest true freshman at North Texas in nine years.

In high school, the athletic and long former volleyball standout was a dominant force in the paint as both a scorer and a shot blocker. In her senior season, she averaged 11 points per game and was named District 16-6A Defensive MVP.

So far in her short time at North Texas, Hopkins has made her length felt with shot blocking and skilled post offense. A tough player who has overcome injury and is still a physical athlete, she will be looked upon to replace the graduated Acheil Tac's presence around the rim.

JADA POLAND #12

Post player Jada Poland is a freshman from St. Louis' Fort Zumwalt West High School. She is the all-time leading scorer and owns the record for most points scored in a single-game at her high school.

Poland averaged 15.7 points per game and averaged a double-double her junior and senior season.

Poland adds length and athleticism to a North Texas post position that lacked depth last season. Given the nickname "Slim" as an adolescent, she uses her length to grab rebounds and score put backs.

JUSTIS SZCZEPANSKI #11

North Texas' most recent transfer acquisition joined the Mean Green roster in August. The former Baylor Lady Bear will be forced to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Szczepanski is a long 6-foot-3 post player who gained valuable experience during her year in Waco. She played in 18 games for a Baylor team last season that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. She played in the first three games of the tournament.

Szczepanski was a highly recruited high school standout who uses her length and high motor to be a force on the defensive side of the ball. Dominant around the rim, she will use her year off to develop shooting range.

MADI TOWNLEY #41

Freshman Madi Townley joins the North Texas after a very successful high school career at Duncanville. The 6-foot forward lost only seven games in four years.

Townley and her Pantherette high school team went 39-0 last season and won a Texas state title. Duncanville is also the alma mater of North Texas head coach Jalie Mitchell

Townley is a capable ball handler who can push the fast break following a rebound. ESPN ranked her the No. 43 forward prospect in the country and also tabbed her as "one of the most improved prospects".

JALIE MITCHELL

Head coach Jalie Mitchell enters her second season with the Mean Green. The 2002 North Texas alumnus and 2007 Mean Green Athletic Hall of Fame inductee is looking to build off a program-changing first season.

Mitchell, the program's all-time leading scorer, was just the second North Texas head coach to more than double the Mean Green win total in their respected first season. The only other was Karen Aston (2011-12) who Mitchell was an assistant under at both North Texas and later Texas.

In just a little over a year, Mitchell and her staff have set a new standard at North Texas. The commitment to the program and having pride in the Mean Green has made 2016-17 the most anticipated season in the program's now 40-year history.

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