University of North Texas

On By Littum

DENTON, Texas – A season-high 24 points from Jacoblyn Moore led the UNT women’s basketball team to an 84-78 victory over Tulsa inside the Super Pit on Wednesday.

With Kyla Deck Unavailable for the game, Moore made her first start since UNT’s Nov. 20 win over Northwestern State. The senior guard delivered by tying her career high at North Texas, matching her 24-point performance against Grambling State last season as she surpassed 1,000 career points.

“Jacoblyn Moore came in and started the game and was huge today,” head coach Jason Burton said. “It starts with what she did offensively, but she had to guard Delanie Crawford in the second half with Desiree Wooten in bad trouble. It was a great game from her with how she played on both sides of the ball.”

Moore was an integral part of the Mean Green, who took an early lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it. North Texas scored the first 12 points of the game and held Tulsa scoreless for the first 6:04 of the game. However, the Golden Hurricane offense came alive in the second quarter, putting together a 13-2 run behind a pair of 3-pointers from Elise Hill and another from Crawford.

After UNT took a 38-32 halftime lead, the Mean Green outscored Tulsa 26-16 in the third quarter sparked by a pair of big runs in the period. As the teams traded buckets in a fast-paced game, UNT was able to extend its lead to 16 points early in the fourth quarter and hold on late to improve to 10-4 this season and 2-0 in conference play.

North Texas received valuable minutes and performances from several pieces Wednesday, including 18 points from Tommisha Lampkin. Ereauna Hardaway added 13 points and six rebounds, while Aniyah Johnson approached a double double with nine points and seven boards.

Despite Crawford leading Tulsa with 22 points, the Mean Green made it difficult for the Preseason All-AAC First Team selection, holding her to 9-of-20 overall, 2-of-8 from 3-point range. Hill also scored 22 points for the Golden Hurricane with six 3-pointers on the day.

North Texas will look to remain undefeated in the American Athletic Conference when it travels to Memphis on Saturday for a 7 p.m.