RUSTON, La. (Jan. 31) - No excuses out of Denver head coach Pam Tanner as her team lost to the No. 2 team in the nation, Louisiana Tech, 90-45 in Ruston, La.
"This game was a step in the process," said Tanner. "This game tells us how far away we are (from becoming a nationally ranked program) and our team learned the hard way tonight. Louisiana Tech took advantage of every mistake we made. I thought we could give them a better basketball game."
In the first half, Denver (11-7, 5-3 SBC) had trouble stopping the inside and outside game of the Lady Techsters. Tech's Shaka Massey scored 13 of her 17 total points early in the half from inside the paint, while Naismith candidate Tamicha Jackson scored 17 of her game-high 21 points from the perimeter and on the fast break. Denver cut an early nine-point Tech lead to five points at 15-10 on a three-pointer by sophomore Melissa Garcia (Thornton, Colo.). But Tech (15-2, 6-0 SBC) proved to be too much for the Pioneers, building to a 48-24 halftime lead.
The second half proved to be too much for the Pioneers as well, as Tech went on a 22-6 run to build a 70-30 lead with 13:12 left in the game.
"Tech has a very balanced team," said Tanner. "We had some bright spots defensively and Misa (Pavlickova) and Martha (Dibella) played a great game."
Junior Misa Pavlickova (Prague, Czech Republic) was the leading scorer for the Pioneers with 13 points. She also had three blocked shots and four rebounds. Pavlickova's three blocked shots moved her into second place on the Pioneers' all-time block list with 171, passing up Kelly Cobb (1992-96) with 170. Sophomore Martha Dibella (Littleton, Colo.) had eight points, four rebounds and played solid defense.
Garcia and junior Bethie Younger (Tomball, Texas) each scored in double figures with 10 points each. Younger started in place of junior Jamie Rhoads (Midland, Texas), who has been bothered by an infection in her foot. Senior Candy Benson (Wilton, Conn.) only played the first seven minutes of the game as she was slowed by strep throat.
Tonight's game was the first time that the Pioneers have allowed a team to score 90 points or more in a game since March 12, 1993 when Denver lost to North Dakota State, 92-77, in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Denver hosts Sun Belt Conference foe Florida International at Magness Arena on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. (MST). On Jan. 22, the Pioneers lost to FIU in Miami, 66-62.
