Nestor breaks 48-year-old school record

The University of North Texas women’s basketball record for most rebounds in a season lasted nearly 50 years, until a 6-4 pivot from Saint Lucia shattered it with at least four games still to go in the season. Megan Nestor is up to 373 rebounds for the Mean Green this season, after recording her 17th double-double of the year on Tuesday night, February 17, in an 84-54 win over the University of Alabama-Birmingham at the Super Pit.

Nestor came into the game needing just six boards to pass Sharon Shelton’s record of 364, which had been around since 1978. The senior from the fishing village of Canaries picked up her sixth carom early in the third quarter. She ended with 14 rebounds and an efficient 16 points on just nine shots from the field, and a perfect 7-7 from the line. The icing on the cake was that her mother was on hand to celebrate the incredible milestone.

If Nestor maintains her current pace over the remaining handful of games, she will be just the third NCAA player to average 14+ rebounds per game since 2019-20, along with Angel Reese (LSU) and Lauren Gustin (BYU). She would also break the American Conference’s record of 418 set by South Florida’s Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu in 2023.

Only two players currently have more double-doubles than her 17, and she is just one behind. She has been in double digits in points and rebounds in 12 of her last 13 games.

“Coming from the NAIA level, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do it,” Nestor said. “It feels really special. Being recognised and doing what I’m doing with my team just means a lot to me.”

North Texas (15-11, 9-5 American) has now won four of its past games, including three in a row at the Super Pit. It was a complete performance, as five Mean Green players reached double-digit scoring while the defence held UAB to just 54 points and forced 19 turnovers. UNT also matched its season-low with six turnovers and did not commit a single one in the second half.

(TF)