North Texas Daily

Tim Cato / Senior Staff Writer

After chasing the No. 1 seed all season, the Mean Green women’s basketball team is in danger of finishing third in the Sun Belt West Division after an 86-69 loss to Troy University on Saturday.

The Mean Green (10-16, 9-8) is averaging 19.5 turnovers a game this year but committed 30 in the loss to Troy (6-19, 3-13). Head coach Mike Petersen attributed the turnovers to the players’ hesitation.

“We weren’t as aggressive as we’ve been,” Petersen said. “We had a lot of indecision, and I thought the indecision led to turnovers.”

Riding a seven-game win streak, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock crept up on UNT to claim the second place in the West Division. Arkansas State University remains the West leader.

Had UNT been prevailed over Troy, the Mean Green would have been able to take the division by winning its three remaining games. Although it is still in the hunt, it must rely on UALR and ASU losing games.

“It’s about everyone on the team focusing in on the goal we’re trying to accomplish,” junior forward Ash’Lynne Evans said. “As long as we stay on the same page and stay together we’ll be fine.”

Despite only three conference wins, Troy has strung together back-to-back victories that included an upset over the Sun Belt Conference leader Middle Tennessee State University last Sunday.

The Mean Green beat Troy earlier in the season at home, 87-71, to begin a five-game win streak.

Freshman guard Loryn Goodwin cooled off on Saturday after breaking her career-high in scoring two games in a row. She missed 12 of her 17 shots but still managed to score 20 points. It was her third straight game to record 20 or more points, the first time a UNT player has accomplished that feat since the 2001-02 season.

“I forced a lot of shots in the beginning,” Goodwin said. “I could have been more poised and relaxed, but overall, we didn’t do well as a whole. We played as individuals.”

Goodwin’s four three-pointers were enough to break Jill Medlock’s school record of 61 made threes in a single season. Goodwin now sits at 63 three-pointers with three games remaining.

UNT returns home to the Super Pit to face Florida Atlantic University on Wednesday, where it will look to break a four-game home losing streak. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.