North Texas got one of its key players back and knocked off a Sun Belt Conference West Division rival on Wednesday.

Considering what the Mean Green has been through over the last month, it was banner day for UNT, which pulled away from Denver in the closing minutes for a 76-69 win at the Super Pit.

The win ended UNT’s six-game skid and marked the return of senior Jo Hall to the lineup.

The senior missed eight games while serving what was an indefinite suspension before coming back to help the Mean Green (6-11, 2-4) win its first game since knocking off Louisiana-Lafayette in its Sun Belt opener on Dec. 18.

“I am so excited,” UNT head coach Shanice Stephens said. “That win was so important for us to take care of our home court and take care of the little things. We were shaky the first half, but came back and proved what we can do in the second half. When we get down and play defense, we look pretty good.”

UNT looked especially good in the closing moments of the second half, when it pulled away with a 9-0 run that sealed the win.

The game was locked at 63-63 when junior guard Brittney James grabbed a rebound and scored. UNT grabbed momentum for good when senior guard Yari Escalera hit a 3-pointer on the Mean Green’s next possession.

Escalera went 4-for-5 from behind the arc and led four UNT players who finished in double figures with 18 points. The Colorado transfer has scored in double figures in three of the four games since she moved into the starting lineup for a game against Sam Houston State on Jan. 3.

“I got some extra shots in and hope they go in during the game,” Escalera said. “You are confident when you get more shots in. That was a big shot, but we were also getting some stops down the stretch.”

UNT had not held an opponent under 70 points during its six-game losing streak. Britteni Rice scored 13 points for Denver, which couldn’t keep up with UNT in the second half. The Mean Green scored 51 points after the break.

Freshman guard Mansa El scored a career-high 17 points for UNT. James added 15 points and senior forward Amber Jackson posted a double-double that included 12 points and 10 rebounds.

“In the second half we didn’t want to have another letdown like in other games, where we would lose by nine,” El said. “We really pushed and wanted it. It showed in the way we carried ourselves, played defense and hit big shots.”

Hall’s return helped the Mean Green break out of its funk. The senior finished with eight points and five rebounds.

“I knew she would play well,” Escalera said of Hall. “She is a big player who is hard to guard.”

UNT needed all the help it could get after a slow start against the Pioneers (9-7, 4-2).

The Mean Green trailed by as many as 12 points before getting on track late in the first half and cutting its deficit to 27-23.

Denver answered with a 7-2 run that included a 3-pointer from Andie Mason at the buzzer that gave the Pioneers a 34-25 lead at the break.

UNT had faced similar deficits during its losing streak and was unable to overcome them. The Mean Green was determined that it wouldn’t suffer the same problems and emerge from its longest losing streak since the 2003-04 season.

“We are ecstatic right now,” El said. “We had a few tough days after our last game. You could tell that we really wanted it today and we went and got it. You could feel the energy and see it in the way we played.”

Briefly…

Senior guard Tricia Lee missed UNT’s win over Denver after suffering an illness that caused her to have a buildup of fluid around her heart. The condition isn’t serious and Lee is expected to return Saturday for a home game against Florida Atlantic.

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

 

North Texas 76, Denver 69

DENVER (9-7, 4-2) – Robinson 4-5 4-5 12, Murdoch 2-5 0-0 4, Otero 4-10 0-0 9, Rice 4-9 4-4 13, Mason 4-10 0-0 12, Culberson 2-7 2-2 6, Vaughan 1-2 0-0 2, Akotaobi 3-6 2-3 9, Bents 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 24-55 4-16 69.

NORTH TEXAS (6-11, 2-4) – Jackson 6-12 0-0 12, Bailey 1-3 0-0 2, Escalera 5-10 4-5 18, James 5-17 5-5 15, El 4-10 8-10 17, Thompson 0-2 0-0 0, Hall 2-11 4-4 8, Buckley 0-1 0-0 0, Torru 1-1 0-0 2, Timms 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 25-71 21-24 76.

Halftime – Denver 34-25. 3-point goals – Denver 7-17 (Otero 1-2, Rice 1-4, Mason 4-8, Culberson 0-1, Vaughan 0-1, Akotaboi 1-1), UNT 5-15 (Escalera 4-5, James 0-5, El 1-3, Hall 0-1, Buckley 0-1). Fouled out – none. Rebounds – Denver 39 (Robinson 7), UNT 41 (Jackson 10). Assists – Denver 8 (Rice, Vaughan 2), UNT 11 (El 5). Total fouls – Denver 15, UNT 16. A – 771.