North Texas coach Shanice Stephens found out Monday that her players were having the same thoughts that were running through her mind.

Shanice Stephens

After six losses in seven games, including a killer four-game slide, it was time to sit down and talk about what the team needed to do to turn around a season heading for a disappointing finish.

“The consensus is that we love the game and need to show it,” Stephens said. “We have to put our best game on the floor. Every night, we have to play tough team basketball.”

UNT will have its first opportunity to show that the meeting paid off tonight when the Mean Green takes on Arkansas-Little Rock in what appears as if it will be a big challenge.

UALR (11-3) is off to a 3-0 start in Sun Belt Conference play as it sits atop of the league’s West Division standings.

“Little Rock is a very formidable opponent, but anything is possible,” Stephens said. “We have to make some adjustments, play together and get our assist numbers up.”

Stephens has juggled her lineup throughout the season, but has yet to hit on a combination that has produced consistent results. The Mean Green (5-9, 1-2) has had its ups and downs and might have hit rock bottom in a 79-72 loss Saturday to Sam Houston State, which improved to 3-10 on the season with the win.

The Bearkats outscored UNT 40-29 in the second half.

One of the few positive signs in the game for UNT was the performance of senior point guard Yari Escalera, who finished with a career-high 17 points.

“Yari took a great step forward,” Stephens said. “She played hard. We need to get her to play that way consistently.”

UNT has been looking for players to provide a consistent secondary scoring option behind Amber Jackson all season. The senior forward is averaging 16.2 points and 10.4 rebounds a game to lead the Mean Green.

Junior guard Brittney James is averaging 12.0 points a game and is UNT’s only other player averaging double figures.

UNT will need all the help it can get against a UALR team that received votes in this week’s USA Today ESPN Division I Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

Sophomore forward Chastity Reed is averaging 16.5 points a game and is just one of three UALR players averaging double figures.

Stephens and the Mean Green feel better about their ability to take on the challenge UALR will present after their meeting Monday.

“We took a first step in turning it around yesterday when we had our powwow about effort,” Stephens said. “We let a few games slip away. This game will be a test that will show what we want to do the rest of the season.”

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .