LITTLE ROCK, ARK.- Senior forward Misa Pavlickova (Prague, Czech Republic/Boulder) scored Denver's first 14 points of the second half to lead the University of Denver women's basketball team to a 56-45 victory over the University of Arkansas Little Rock, Thursday, January 11, 2001 at Alltel Arena. Denver improves to 10-5, 2-2 on the season while UALR falls to 5-9, 0-4.

"I was very proud of our top eight players tonight because they all contributed some great things," head coach Pam Tanner said. "It was an important ball game for us and they knew that and did what they needed to win."

Denver began the game with the first bucket in the nip and tuck affair which saw four ties aned six lead changes in the first stanza alone. Melissa Garcia's (Thornton, Colo./Thornton) three pointer tied the game at 10 points with 15:19 on the clock. The Pioneers were able to score the next four straight points, but UALR was able to capitalize on a conventional three point play when Roberta Sarti was fouled while hitting a layup, making it a one-point game 14-13 at 11:54. The teams traded runs and tied the game at 20 with 3:47 remaining. Denver finished the half with a 7-1 run to take a narrow six-point lead into the locker room at the half (27-21).

Pavlickova's 14 points to begin the second stanza broke the game open, giving the Pioneers a 41-24 lead. The Pioneers continued the run 21-7 and built the largest lead of 22 points at 10:53 on a layup by Misty Staton (Duke, Okla.).

Pavlickova led all scorers with 20 points and added six rebounds and four blocks. Nikki Weddle (Denver, Colo./Montbello) led the team with seven rebounds and added six points. Garcia and Staton scored seven points apiece to add to the Pioneer offense. Muci Harris led UALR with 13 points.

The Pioneers return home to face western division foe North Texas on Saturday, January 13, 2001 at Magness Arena.