Pioneers extend home unbeaten streak to seven games
DENVER - Denver junior Melissa Garcia (Thornton, Colo.) scored 18 points and recorded five steals and senior Michaela Pavlickova (Prague, Czech Republic) and sophomore Ashley Atkinson (Springfield, Mo.) each drained two free throws in the waning seconds to help propel the University of Denver women's basketball team to a stunning 65-58 victory over Sun Belt Conference foe North Texas Saturday night at Magness Arena. With the win, Denver's seventh consecutive unbeaten game at home, improves to 11-5, 3-2 SBC and takes over sole possession of second place in the western division behind New Orleans. North Texas falls to 10-6, 2-3.
The Pioneers opened the contest with an 8-0 run and held UNT scoreless for the first three and a half minutes. The Mean Green battled back in the half and pulled to within one point, 20-19 with 6:45 remaining in the half. Denver regrouped and tore off on a 19-0 run, holding North Texas scoreless for over six minutes to build their largest lead of the night at 20 points. Garcia led the Pioneers' explosive offensive attack with 11 points in the opening frame while UNT failed to score a field goal in the final 6:45 of the first half. The Pioneers took a 39-24 lead into the recess.
North Texas stormed out of the locker room in the second half and took advantage of Denver's lethargic play with a 6-0 run to cut the Pioneers' lead to nine points, 39-30 with 15:40 left in the game. UNT continued to chip away at Denver's lead and tied the contest 54-54 with 5:56 remaining after UNT converted a four-point play when Nicole Thomas scored a long two-point basket and teammate Kristin Tramonte converted two free-throws after a foul was whistled away from the play.
Garcia responded with two consecutive field goals to give Denver a four-point lead with 4:52 left. North Texas kept the game close with free-throws down the stretch despite failing to convert a field goal in the final 5:56 of the game. UNT pulled to within three points, 61-58 with 1:44 left on the clock but turned the ball over in the offensive end after stealing the ball from Denver. Pavlickova, who ended the game with 10 points and five rebounds, made a key steal with 21 seconds remaining and converted two free-throws. Garcia made a steal five seconds later, but was unable to shoot the bonus tries after she fell awkwardly on the floor. Atkinson, who contributed 10 points and three boards, came into the game off of the bench and drained both attempts from the charity stripe to give the Pioneers their final margin of victory 65-58.
Despite being out-rebounded 42-29 by the Mean Green, Denver out-shot North Texas .418 to .352 from the field and converted five field goals from beyond the arc.
Denver returns to action this Thursday, January 18 when it hosts Sun Belt Conference newcomer Middle Tennessee State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MST.
