BrittanyKenyshaUNT
53
North Alabama UNA 21-9
56
Winner North Texas UNT 18-15
North Alabama UNA
21-9
53
Final
56
North Texas UNT
18-15
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
North Alabama UNA 15 10 15 13 53
North Texas UNT 17 11 15 13 56

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

NORTH TEXAS EDGES LIONS 56-53 IN WBI SEMI-FINALS

DENTON, Texas, – North Texas took the lead in the final minute of play and held off North Alabama down the stretch to post a 56-53 victory Friday in the semi-finals of the Women's Basketball Invitational. With the loss, UNA ends its first season as a Division I program with a 21-9 record.
 
After trailing throughout much of the second half, UNA took a 53-52 lead on a runner by Kenysha Coulson with 58.7 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, North Texas scored on a putback to regain the lead with 25.5 seconds to play.
 
After the Lions were called for a turnover, UNT could not put the game away at the free throw line, going 2-for-4 in the final 21 seconds. UNA, however, missed a pair of three-point attempts, including a contested, potential tying shot as time expired.
 
For the game, UNA shot 37.3 percent from the floor, including a 6-for-18 showing from three-point range. The Lions forced 16 UNT turnovers and turned them into 19 points. Ivy Wallen led the way with 14 points.
 
North Texas, led for 31:37 of playing time. UNT hit a shot with two seconds remaining to take a 17-15 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
 
In the second quarter, the Mean Green used an 8-1 run to grab the lead. After a three-point basket by Olivia Graham tied the game at 20-20, the Lions went 3:16 without another field goal.
 
North Texas took its largest lead of the first half on a jumper with 1:54 remaining to go ahead 28-21. Coulson answered with four points for UNA. The junior from Huntsville got a basket and two free throws down the stretch to cut the UNT lead to 28-25 at the half.
                       
A basket by Brittany Panetti with 6:29 remaining in the third quarter gave North Alabama its first lead at 31-30. UNT regained the lead at the 2:55 mark with a basket and free throw to take 36-33 lead.
 
The Mean Green led 43-40 heading into the final period and led by as many as six in the fourth quarter. A basket at the 7:11 mark gave the home team a 48-42 lead.
 
The Lions, however, made one last push. A layup by Wallen with 6:16 to play started an 11-4 run to set up the final sequence. Consecutive baskets by Panetti and a pair of free throws by Coulson cut the lead to a single point with 1:51 remaining.
 
The Lions got a defensive stop to set up Coulson's go-ahead basket in the final minute.
 
Coulson finished with 11 points. She also produced team-high numbers in rebounds (6) and assists (4). Brittany Smith and Callie Owens scored 10 points each while Madi Townley pulled down 14 rebounds to lead North Texas (18-15).

 
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Players Mentioned

Kenysha Coulson

#24 Kenysha Coulson

G
5' 10"
Junior
Brittany Panetti

#44 Brittany Panetti

F
6' 2"
Junior
Ivy Wallen

#3 Ivy Wallen

G
5' 7"
Junior
Olivia Graham

#25 Olivia Graham

G
5' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kenysha Coulson

#24 Kenysha Coulson

5' 10"
Junior
G
Brittany Panetti

#44 Brittany Panetti

6' 2"
Junior
F
Ivy Wallen

#3 Ivy Wallen

5' 7"
Junior
G
Olivia Graham

#25 Olivia Graham

5' 6"
Freshman
G