Dec. 16, 2001

Box Score

Sophomore forward Stephanie Hart (Shoreline, Wash.) recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead the University of Denver women's basketball team to a 63-34 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff today at Hamilton Gymnasium. The 34 UAPB points set an all-time school record for fewest points scored by an opponent. The old mark was 36 points scored by Wisconsin-Green Bay (Dec. 14, 1997).

"We are extremely happy to win this game, it was a game we really needed to win," Denver head coach Pam Tanner said. "We need to build on this game and get ourselves ready for Sun Belt Conference play at the end of this month."

The game was the final contest in the three-day classic format event and was played in Hamilton Gym due to the last minute scheduling of the third day. Denver ended its seven-game losing streak and improved to 3-7 on the season while Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell to 1-4 on the season.

Denver started the game with an 18-2 run to earn a 16-point lead just six minutes into the contest. Ragan Neblett (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview) hit five points in the opening run and Melissa Garcia (Thornton, Colo./Thornton) contributed six points on two three pointers. The Pioneers continued their dominance to finish the first period with a 32-17 lead, shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from long range.

In the second half, the Pioneers got the advantage to 20 points five minutes into the stanza when Misty Staton stole the ball and executed the give and go, allowing Nikki Weddle to give the ball back for the layup. Denver earned its largest lead of the game at 29 points midway through the period (52-23) as freshman Shelley Jones (Denver, Colo./Matchbuf) went coast to coast after picking off the passing lanes to score her first collegiate points.

Denver shot 42.9 percent from the field for the game and grabbed 44 rebounds (44-40), outrebounding its opponent for the first time in six games. Kenya Lockhart led UAPB with eight points and also had nine rebounds.

Ashley Atkinson (Springfield, Mo./Kickapoo) was sidelined for the game after suffering a concussion during a collision on Saturday vs. BYU. She is being evaluated day-to-day and will be questionable for the game in her hometown vs. Southwest Missouri State Tuesday (Dec. 18).