CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The North Texas Mean Green rallied from a 12-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Charlotte 49ers 82-73 in an American Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Halton Arena. Charlotte led 26-14 after one quarter, but North Texas steadily chipped away, taking the lead in the third period and pulling away late before an announced crowd of 827. Jazzy Owens-Barnett led the Mean Green with 21 points. Tanajah Hayes scored a game-high 23 points for the 49ers. North Texas improved to 15-10 overall. Charlotte fell to 12-15.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — Overcoming a torrid start by Charlotte, the North Texas women’s basketball team used a dominant second-half defensive performance and near-perfect free-throw shooting to secure an 82-73 road victory in an American Athletic Conference game Saturday at Halton Arena. The Mean Green, who trailed by 12 points in the first quarter, improved to 15-10 overall. Charlotte fell to 12-15. The most critical phase of the game was a decisive third-quarter run by North Texas that flipped the contest for good. After a back-and-forth first half that saw Charlotte take a 46-39 lead into the break behind 20 points from Tanajah Hayes, the Mean Green emerged from halftime with heightened defensive intensity. They held the 49ers to just 15 points in the third quarter on 5-of-16 shooting while forcing six turnovers. North Texas guard Jazzy Owens-Barnett, the team’s top star, ignited the comeback. After being limited by foul trouble in the first half, the Plano, Texas, native orchestrated the offense and attacked the basket, scoring 10 of her team-high 21 points after halftime. Her driving layup with 2:24 left in the third quarter capped a 14-4 run that gave North Texas its first lead since the opening minutes at 53-52. The Mean Green never trailed again. They extended their lead in the fourth quarter by capitalizing on Charlotte’s offensive struggles and maintaining remarkable efficiency at the foul line. North Texas made 16 of 17 free throws for the game, including 10 of 11 in the final period to stifle any comeback attempt. While Owens-Barnett led the scoring, North Texas received a monumental performance from guard Andi Schissler. The junior from Kersey, Colorado, played 37 minutes and scored 20 points, including six crucial three-pointers that stretched the Charlotte defense. Her back-to-back three-pointers early in the third quarter were pivotal in erasing the deficit. Aysia Proctor added 16 points and Mekhia Chase contributed 11 for a balanced North Texas attack that shot 51.9% from the field and a blistering 55.6% from three-point range. Charlotte was led by a game-high 23 points from hometown guard Tanajah Hayes. Zoe Best added 18 points, but the 49ers’ offense cooled dramatically after a 26-point first quarter. They shot just 43.1% overall and were outscored 43-27 in the second half. North Texas also won the efficiency battle, posting an offensive rating of 113.8 points per 100 possessions compared to Charlotte’s 99.8. Despite committing 16 turnovers and being outrebounded on the offensive glass, the Mean Green’s superior shooting and clutch defense proved decisive. The win marks North Texas’s second straight victory as they continue a push in conference play. Charlotte, which had won three of its last five, sees its momentum halted. North Texas returns home to face Texas-San Antonio on Tuesday. Charlotte travels to face Florida Atlantic on Tuesday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — A pair of American Athletic Conference teams looking to build momentum for the final stretch of the season will meet Saturday when the North Texas Mean Green visit the Charlotte 49ers in a women’s basketball matchup at Halton Arena. North Texas (14-10) enters on a high note after a dominant 84-54 home victory over UAB on Tuesday. The Mean Green have won three of their last four, showcasing a balanced attack. In the win over UAB, Aysia Proctor scored 22 points, Megan Nestor added 16 and Cherie Spencer contributed 10. Proctor, a key player to watch, is averaging 16.3 points over her last three games, including a 22-point performance in that rout. Charlotte (12-14) seeks to rebound from a narrow 58-54 home loss to Temple on Tuesday, a game in which Princess Anderson scored 19 points. The 49ers had won three straight prior to that defeat, fueled by the dynamic play of guard Tanajah Hayes. Hayes is a consistent triple-double threat, evidenced by a 24-point, 10-assist game at Temple on Jan. 24 and a 10-assist outing at Memphis on Feb. 14. The matchup pits North Texas’s recent offensive surge against a Charlotte team that has shown resilience in close games, with three of its last five contests decided by six points or fewer. The Mean Green won the first meeting this season, 87-63, in Denton on Jan. 6. Saturday’s contest is critical for conference tournament seeding. North Texas aims to solidify a winning record, while Charlotte looks to climb back to .500 in league play. Following this game, North Texas will host Texas-San Antonio on Feb. 24, while Charlotte travels to face Florida Atlantic on the same date. Tipoff is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2026, at Halton Arena.