UNT rolls to win over Memphis to set up huge showdown with Rice on Saturday

The stage is set for yet another big game in the North Texas-Rice series in women’s basketball.

Mekhia Chase and the Mean Green made sure of that on Tuesday night with a 75-64 win over Memphis at the Super Pit.

The junior guard was inserted into the starting lineup when Cherie Spencer was scratched before the game with a minor injury and came through with 16 points. Chase’s best performance of the season helped the Mean Green rip off their third straight win, setting up a huge game against the Owls.

South Florida knocked off UTSA on Tuesday night, leaving Rice as the only unbeaten team in the league. UNT is among five teams in the conference with one loss in league play.

The Owls play at home against UAB, which has lost each of its first four conference games, on Wednesday

“Rice is something to talk about early in the season, and they’re a rival,” UNT coach Jason Burton said. “Whether they were the only unbeaten team or if everyone is unbeaten, we want to win that game. It’s going to be a battle. It always is.”

UNT (10-7, 4-1 American) will head into a home game against the Owls (13-3, 3-0) with a chance to move into a tie atop the conference standings.

UNT will enter that game off a solid all-around performance against Memphis, outside of a rough third quarter.

Megan Nestor posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The senior led four UNT players who scored in double figures, a group that also included Chase.

“The tunnel drives were pretty open,” Chase said. “Megan set screens, and I saw the openings.”

Chania Price also came through with a big day. The sophomore forward had scored career highs in back-to-back games and came up just short of making it three in a row on a night she finished with 14 points, one off the total she posted in a win over Tulane.

“Chania is getting more comfortable at the four spot and with finding opportunities to score the ball,” Burton said. “She has always been a spark for us on the defensive end. She’s gaining confidence. Confident players are going to make plays.”

UNT looked like it would cruise on a night it shot 50% from the field (26-for-52).

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The Mean Green led 11-10 when Tionna Lidge scored four straight points to spark an 8-0 UNT run. The Mean Green were off and running from there and led 40-22 at halftime.

UNT took a 54-33 lead on a pair of free throws from Price in the third quarter.

That was when the game nearly slipped away from UNT.

Memphis got back into the game with a 17-2 run capped by back-to-back 3s from Chae Harris, including one at the buzzer that cut UNT’s lead to 56-50.

“We came together after the third quarter and realized we needed to do whatever it took to win,” Nestor said.

UNT found the answer in an 11-3 run to open the fourth quarter behind Chase, who scored the Mean Green’s first four points in the run.

“Chase was tremendous today,” Burton said. “It was one of her best games in a Mean Green uniform. She is able to play a position where she’s had no reps this year, get downhill and get us into our stuff.”

She also helped get UNT into position to face Rice with the top spot in the American Conference on the line.

“It’s a big one,” Chase said. “We’re confident. I know how we can play.”

North Texas 75, Memphis 64

MEMPHIS (7-11, 1-4) – Smith 8-17 2-3 21, Williams 1-1 0-0 2, Allen 4-10 1-2 9, Hunter 2-5 2-4 7, Richmond 4-10 1-1 9, Gaines 1-2 0-0 2, Harris 2-8 1-4 7, K. Alexander 1-6 0-0 2, B. Alexander 1-2 0-0 2, Charlo 1-3 0-0 3, Gilmore 0-0 0-0 0, Spiers 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-65 7-14 64.

NORTH TEXAS (10-7, 4-1) – Nestor 5-6 7-10 17, Shissler 1-5 0-2 2, Owens-Barnett 3-6 0-1 6. Proctor 4-12 2-4 12, Price 5-11 4-4 14, Chase 5-8 6-8 16, Lidge 3-4 2-4 8, Talley 0-0 0-0 0, Rickman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-52 21-33 75.

Halftime – UNT 40-22 Three-point goals – Memphis 7-16 (Smith 3-3, Hunter 1-1, Harris 2-6, K. Alexander 0-2, B. Alexander 0-1, Charlo 1-3) UNT 2-7 (Schissler 0-3, Proctor 2-3, Price 0-1) Fouled out – K. Alexander Rebounds – Memphis 36 (K. Alexander 7) UNT 40 (Nestor 11) Assists – Memphis 14 (Richmond 5) UNT 9 (Chase 3) Total fouls – Memphis 29, UNT 14 A – 1,371.