Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas

02/10/2012

Men’s basketball: A Walton run
MIAMI — Early in North Texas’ game against Florida International on Thursday, it seemed as if Brandan Walton might have one of those nights when nothing would go right. The junior is one of UNT’s best 3-point shooters and launched four in the first half. Not a single one fell. By the end of UNT’s 68-61 win at U.S. Century Bank Arena, those misses were nothing but a memory.

Women’s basketball: UNT rally falls short at buzzer
MIAMI — Karen Aston had North Texas go to a full-court press and called a few timeouts in the second half to try to get the Mean Green back to the point where it was playing like it was early on in its game against Florida International on Thursday. UNT got there eventually. But by then it was too late.

Softball: Mean Green rebuilding after losing its leaders
During her first three seasons at North Texas, Lisa Johnson paid attention to every move players like Mallory Cantler and Mariza Martinez made. She noticed when they spoke up and when they stayed quiet while serving as UNT’s unquestioned leaders. What Johnson learned could go a long way toward determining if the Mean Green can overcome expectations that are pretty low heading into UNT’s 11 a.m. season opener today against Oklahoma State at the University of Houston tournament.

02/09/2012

Men's basketball: Big-time chance

DRC/David Minton

Senior guard Tyler Hall has seen a lot of playing time recently after injuries and academics decimated North Texas’ roster.

Tyler Hall didn’t have a lot of time to adjust to being in a situation he never even dreamed of finding himself in a few weeks ago. The shot clock was winding down just seconds after he was introduced as a starter for the first time at North Texas. Hall had to let a 3-pointer fly. How Hall ended up in that spot is a tale of perseverance, misfortune, faith and a little luck, all wound up in one.

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Women's basketball: Pioneers pull off the upset
The Lone Star Conference leading Tarleton State TexAnns entered Wednesday night’s game against TWU riding a 15-game winning streak, but that came crashing down as the Pioneers pulled off the upset with a 55-48 victory at Kitty Magee Arena.

02/08/2012

UNT notebook: Jones hopes Holmen can help Mean Green this week
North Texas men’s basketball head coach Johnny Jones knew from the beginning that it would take time for Jacob Holmen to return to form after missing nearly two months due to a pair of concussions. The process will continue this week when UNT heads to Florida for an extended road trip with games against Florida International and Florida Atlantic. UNT will face a red-hot FIU team Thursday before taking on FAU on Saturday.

TWU Notebook: Pioneers look to end skid against Tarleton State
TWU finds itself in another three-game losing streak — its second this season — and the schedule doesn’t get any easier tonight when the Pioneers play host to league-leading Tarleton State at 7 p.m. at Kitty Magee Arena. The TexAnns (17-5) arrive with a 14-0 mark in Lone Star Conference play, providing the Pioneers the ultimate challenge as they attempt to reverse a recent stretch in which they’ve been dominated on the boards, outscored in the paint and offered up little threat from the perimeter with poor 3-point shooting the last three games.

Golf: UNT finishes 10th in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz. — The North Texas women struggled in Tuesday’s final round of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational, shooting 31-over par and finishing in 10th place.

02/06/2012

Softball: TWU, Southern Ark. split doubleheader

Courtesy photo/Chris Bluenshine, Bellissimofoto

TWU freshman shortstop Kathryn Williams was 3-for-5 in Sunday’s two games against Southern Arkansas.

It was a tale of two games at Pioneer Field. Texas Woman’s University (1-2) had a better offensive game to start the doubleheader, defeating Southern Arkansas 6-2. The second game ended up being a pitchers’ duel, with SAU (2-1) coming out on top 3-2. TWU combined for six errors in the two contests, which is a problem coach Richie Bruister plans to address.

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02/04/2012

Women’s basketball: Lady Buffs stampede TWU

TWU/Lockard Koval

TWU guard Raquel Cuffie grabs a rebound away from West Texas A&M’s Kenisha Harris, left, as TWU freshman Jacqui Nickell looks on Saturday at Kitty Magee Arena. The Pioneers suffered a 66-55 loss.

After trailing by 11 points at halftime Saturday, TWU rallied to take the lead against West Texas A&M, only to see the Lady Buffs respond and hand the Pioneers their second home loss of the season, 66-55. TWU went on a 15-2 run early in the second half to take a 39-38 lead, but West Texas executed down the stretch with a 16-4 run of its own. Sophomore forward Kenisha Harris, the Lady Buffs’ leading scorer at just over 14 points a game, led all scorers with 25 points and 10 rebounds, including 17 points and 9-of-11 shooting from the free throw line in the second half.

Softball: Pioneers drop season opener to Southern Arkansas
Costly errors and a lack of offensive execution plagued TWU on Saturday as the Pioneers dropped their season opener to Southern Arkansas 8-1.

UNT roundup: Netters top No. 53 Wildcats
Swimming: Mean Green falls on road to sixth-ranked Aggies

Softball: Pioneers to open season today
Fourth-year TWU softball coach Richie Bruister relaxes in the Pioneer Field bleachers and watches his team work out in spring-like temperatures. He’s definitely not feeling any midwinter blues. A balanced mix of seven returning starters, five transfers expected to make an immediate impact and six talented freshmen is the reason Bruister speaks with an excited air of confidence about this year’s Pioneers.

Gymnastics: Arizona upends Pioneers
TWU used season-best performances on bars and beam to post a season-high team score of 193.725 against No. 18 Arizona on Friday night at Kitty Magee Arena. The Wildcats captured the dual meet title with a 195.875 and won all four events.

Football: UNT happy with health of walk-on program
North Texas has a long history of having walk-ons develop into key players. Linebacker Derek Mendoza and Casey Fitzgerald are two recent examples of recruits who came to UNT without a scholarship and quickly developed into starters.

Tennis: Arkansas nips Mean Green
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Mean Green tennis team dropped another heartbreaking match to a ranked opponent Friday, losing 4-3 at No. 32 Arkansas. North Texas (2-3) jumped out early on against the Razorbacks (3-1), taking two of the three doubles matches and the doubles point.

02/03/2012

Men’s basketball: Rally comes up just short
North Texas had chance after chance to hit a shot in the closing moments that might have changed the outcome of its showdown with Middle Tennessee on Thursday at the Super Pit. None of them would fall. Not a Tony Mitchell 3-pointer. Not a short jumper from Alzee Williams. Not a tip by Niko Stojiljkovic.

Women’s basketball: UNT makes it close but fall again
North Texas was right where it wanted to be Thursday in the waning moments against Middle Tennessee, a team that has given the Mean Green fits over the years. UNT just couldn’t quite get over the hump.

02/02/2012

Football: UNT focuses on high school stars
Dan McCarney laid out a plan to build a solid program with high school talent when he took over at North Texas just weeks before national signing day a year ago. McCarney and his staff had a full year to recruit, not to mention a new $79 million stadium to sell, while putting together their second signing class.

Notebook: New defensive coordinator makes debut
Not every new addition North Texas unveiled on national signing day had to sign his name on a letter of intent.

Women's basketball: Late TWU rally falls short against Zias
PORTALES, N.M. — TWU went on a 17-10 run in the final eight minutes, but it wasn’t enough as the Pioneers dropped a 62-59 decision to Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday night.

Basketball: UNT at home today
Perfection is hard to come by at this point of the season — at least when it comes to records — in college basketball.

UNT notebook: Skladany among UNT’s new faces
Not every new addition North Texas unveiled on national signing day had to sign his name on a letter of intent.

Soccer: Guyer trio anchors Mean Green class
Three of the top recruits in North Texas signing class won’t have to go far to get to their new home for the next four years.

02/01/2012

Football: Did new digs pay off?
Up until a few months ago, North Texas was in the unenviable position of selling dreams when it came to recruiting. UNT had plans. It had aspirations. What it didn’t have was a top-notch football venue — or anything close to it — while playing at Fouts Field.

TWU notebook: Nuzum starting to feel at home downtown
Junior guard Brittney Nuzum, who transferred to TWU after two solid seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, may finally be settling into her role as the Pioneers’ dominant perimeter scorer.

UNT notebook: Three recruits to sit out semester
Andrew Tucker is still a part of North Texas’ future. The Mean Green’s plans for the Tyler Chapel Hill running back and two other members of its recruiting class are just a little further off.