UNT Women Lose In Overtime To Ark St
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JONESBORO, Ark. – The North Texas women’s basketball team completed an 11-point second-half comeback, and even led by five in overtime, but Ashley Olvera scored seven points in the game’s final 3:06 to lift Arkansas State to a 70-64 win at the Convocation Center.
The Mean Green (9-8, 2-2 Sun Belt West) had a grand opportunity to steal its first overtime victory since 2007 on the strength of Jasmine Godbolt’s game-high 20 point performance. The junior was 9-of-10 from the floor, grabbed six boards and scored the first three points of overtime.
Desiree Nelson, who had eight points on the day, took over for Godbolt and landed a 3-pointer to give the Mean Green a five point lead with 3:32 remaining in overtime.
That’s when Olvera went to work for the Red Wolves (6-10, 1-3 Sun Belt West). She hit a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down, followed by a steal and a fast-break layup to tie the contest. Andi Watson gave the Red Wolves their first lead of overtime with a layup from the right block on their next look at the bucket.
NT’s Tamara Torru just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, which gives her at least seven rebounds in each of the last four games. Trailing by 11 at the half, Torru helped North Texas open the second on a 6-0 run that vaulted NT back into the game at 36-31. Her two buckets in the opening minutes helped NT extend the run to 12-5 over the first 6:30 of the second.
With five-minutes remaining NT made its move for the lead. Torru nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it a one-score game at 50-48. Nelson splashed home a pair of free throws on the next trip down the floor, and Laura McCoy’s 3-pointer with four minutes on the clock gave NT a 53-50 edge and capped a 12-1 run.
But the Red Wolves landed six free throws over the game’s final three minutes to tie the score at 58. McCoy had a solid look at the potential game winning 3-pointer from the left corner with a second on the clock, but it clanged out.
North Texas had little trouble shooting the ball in the opening frame, knocking down 61 percent from the floor, but 16 first-half turnovers were too much to overcome. For the game, NT shot 56.5 percent but committed 28 turnovers. ASU went into the half on top, 36-25.
The Mean Green returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 11 against Sun Belt East Division rival Western Kentucky. Tip off from the Super Pit is slated for 7 p.m.
