By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Andi Schissler scored 18 points Thursday afternoon, pacing the fifth-seeded North Texas Mean Green to their second win in the American Conference women’s basketball tournament, a 76-73 victory over the No. 4 Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

A day after North Texas routed the ninth-seeded FAU Owls, 80-57, in the second round, they rolled to an early double-digit lead and held off a late rally by the Golden Hurricane.

The Golden Hurricane entered on a double bye, making the quarterfinals their first game at the Legacy Center in Birmingham, Ala.

After coming out flat and falling behind by 11 at the half and by 19 in the third quarter, Tulsa rallied to within three with 14 seconds remaining.

A North Texas turnover on a steal by Tulsa’s Dora Toman with 11 seconds gave the Golden Hurricane a chance to tie.

But Mady Cartwright’s attempt at a three with two seconds left was off the mark.

As a result, the Golden Hurricane (19-12) had their hopes dashed for a berth in the NCAA tournament and now must wait for a bid to another postseason event.

The Mean Green (19-13) advanced to the semifinals against the top-seeded Rice Owls (27-4).

American Conference
Women’s basketball tournament
At Birmingham, Ala.

Tuesday

Game 1 — (9) FAU defeats (8) Charlotte, 74-70, overtime
Game 2 — (7) Temple defeats (10) Tulane, 86-77, overtime

Wednesday

Game 3 — (5) North Texas defeats (9) FAU, 80-57
Game 4 — (6) UTSA defeats (7) Temple, 59-51

Thursday

Game 5 — (5) North Texas defeats (4) Tulsa, 76-73
Game 6 — (6) UTSA vs. (3) South Florida, 2:30 p.m.

Friday

Game 7 — (5) North Texas vs. (1) Rice, 6 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 6 winner vs. (2) East Carolina, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

Game 9 (championship) — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Records

(1) Rice 27-4, 17-1
(2) East Carolina 22-9, 14-4
(3) South Florida 20-11, 13-5
(4) Tulsa 19-12, 11-7
(5) North Texas 19-13, 11-7
(6) UTSA 15-15, 9-9
(7) Temple 15-17, 8-10
(8) Charlotte 14-18, 8-10
(9) FAU 14-18, 7-11
(10) Tulane 11-20, 6-12