HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — It wasn’t exactly the start that North Texas women’s basketball coach Shanice Stephens had hoped for.

In her first game as leader of the Mean Green, Stephens watched as Marshall shot 51 percent to earn a 78-69 victory over North Texas at the Cam Henderson Center.

Jeremy McKnight/The Herald-Dispatch

North Texas women’s basketball coach Shanice Stephens, left, talks with UNT guard Tamara Torru during Monday’s game against Marshall in Huntington, W.Va. The Mean Green lost, 78-69.

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“It definitely didn’t end the way I wanted or imagined and dreamed of, but it was definitely a starting place for the new Mean Green,” Stephens said.

Marshall won the game in the frontcourt against the guard-heavy Mean Green. Herd center Tynikki Crook scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while adding five blocks as North Texas played without starting center Brittani Bailey, who was suspended along with starting point guard Yari Escalera for a violation of team rules. They did not make the trip to Huntington.

Behind Crook’s 13 rebounds, Mar-shall owned a 43-33 rebounding edge and ended the game 29-of-49 from inside the 3-point line.

“We know exactly what we need to work on,” Stephens said. “Our post defense is poor and we are going to work on that. We’re going to be better. You will definitely see a different team.”

The 3-point shot is what kept North Texas in the contest throughout. The Mean Green hit 9-of-20 shots beyond the arc, led by Tricia Lee’s five 3-pointers. Marshall finished 0-of-8 from long range.

“We tried every defense that we have in our arsenal and couldn’t slow them down from the 3-point line,” Marshall coach Royce Chadwick said. “They hit some big 3-pointers on us. I think that’s what kept them in the game.”

Lee finished with a career-high 21 points, including a running 3-pointer as the shot clock ran out to cut Marshall’s lead to 70-67 with 2:20 left. However, the Mean Green got no closer as the lack of depth and the fast pace took its toll.

“We played a little short-handed tonight, but I think we still did well for the numbers we had,” Stephens said.

Marshall’s depth was evident as the Thundering Herd placed five scorers in double figures. In addition to Crook, Casey baker added 14 points while Chantelle Handy and Alix Barnette added 13 each. Tania Walters came off the bench to chip in with 10.

UNT led throughout much of the first half, building a 33-26 lead on a pair of Jo Hall free throws with 3:00 remaining. However, Marshall (2-0) outscored the Mean Green 10-1 over the final three minutes with Baker’s left-handed runner falling at the buzzer to give Marshall a 36-34 lead.

“That was tough at the last,” Stephens said. “We wanted to definitely go in knotted up and be ready to start the second half. That was momentum.”