Dec. 7, 2001

Box Score

The University of Denver women's basketball team took the undefeated Bradley Braves to overtime, but fell three points short at the buzzer to relinquish a 85-82 decision at Robertson Memorial Field House Friday. Denver falls to 2-5 on the season and pushed its losing streak to five games, while Bradley remains undefeated at 8-0.

Bradley's Sara Bailey hit a three pointer from the left corner with seven seconds to play in overtime to give the Braves the winning three-point margin. Ashley Atkinson (Springfield, Mo./Kickapoo), who hit six three's on the night, had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but her three-point attempt went off the front of the rim.

The Pioneers made a school-record 13 three pointers on the night (previous record was 12 vs. Adams St. Jan. 5, 1985) and shot 48.1 percent from long range. In addition to Atkinson's six three-pointers, Melissa Garcia (Thornton, Colo./Thornton) added four and Nikki Weddle (Denver, Colo./Montbello/CU) had two.

Denver was led by a game-high 22 points from Atkinson, while Garcia added 16, Weddle contributed 13, and Misty Staton (Duke, Okla./Duke) had 12. Rasheeda Love scored 21 to lead the Braves and Bailey ended the night with 20 points.

After trailing by four points at the end of the first half, the Pioneers opened the second half with a 13-3 run using a variety of defensive maneuvers that did not allow a Bradley field goal during the stretch that opened another six-point lead (51-45). The Braves scored three straight three pointers to tie the score at 51 and then traded threes with the Pioneers to keep the score deadlocked at 54 for more than 2:30 minutes before Melissa Garcia converted a steal into two points. The remainder of the second half saw six lead changes and eight ties to set up the extra period. Bradley set up for the last shot and got a clean drive to the basket, but Lora Weber missed the layup and Staton grabbed the rebound to send the game into overtime.

In the first half, the Pioneers erased a 6-0 Bradley lead early in the first half with a 7-0 run of their own, capped by Weddle's free throw. Denver went on to build their own six-point margin (23-17) after Atkinson hit back-to-back three pointers. Bradley used an 11-2 run to tie the game at 25 points and Love nailed a three pointer to give the Braves a three point advantage (28-25). After the fifth tie of the first half at 34 points, Bradley finished the stanza with an 8-2 run to earn a slim 42-38 advantage at the half.

The Pioneers will complete a six-day road trip in New Jersey on Sunday with an afternoon contest vs. Monmouth University at William T. Boylan Gym in West Long Branch, N.J.