Jan. 17, 2002

Despite 12 three pointers, four from each of the Pioneer guards, the University of Denver women's basketball team lost to North Texas Thursday night at the Super Pit in Denton, Texas. Denver falls to 8-10, 4-2 on the season, while North Texas improves to 10-6, 4-2 and moves into a tie for first place with Denver in the Sun Belt Conference West Division race.

Nikki Weddle (Denver, Colo./Montbello/CU) led the Pioneers with 17 points, while Melissa Garcia (Thornton, Colo./Thornton) and Ashley Atkinson (Springfield, Mo./Kickapoo) each added 14. Weddle, Garcia and Atkinson each scored four three pointers, just missing the record of 13 treys set at Bradley earlier this season.

"We had our chances to win this game," head coach Pam Tanner said. "We didn't do the things defensively that we needed to do and we didn't execute when it came to crunch time. Hopefully we can get better before the Sun Belt Conference Tournament."

North Texas broke open the game with a 14-4 second-half run, including two free throws grated as a result of a technical foul called on head coach Pam Tanner. Trailing 47-39, Nikki Weddle connected on two three pointers to get the Pioneers within two points at 49-47 five minutes into the half. Denver hit four straight three pointers to bring the score to 64-63 with just under eight minutes to play, but North Texas scored seven straight points, making the score 71-63 with four minutes to play. The Lady Eagles were able to hold on to the margin to earn a 77-68 decision.

Denver started the game by creating a 13-9 lead behind two three pointers from Garcia, and maintained the lead through most of the first half. Atkinson's three pointer gave the Pioneers a five-point advantage (25-20) with 6:30 to play, but North Texas responded with six straight points to earn a 26-25 edge with five minutes remaining in the first half. Denver took back the lead at 29-26, but North Texas tied the game and it remained tied for the final two minutes of the half until the Pioneers set up the last play for Atkinson who nailed her second three pointer to give Denver a 36-33 halftime advantage. Denver scored five three pointers in the first half and North Texas scored nine points from the free throw line (9-12).

North Texas was led by Jalie Mitchell with 22 points and Shannan Stephenson with 21. The Lady Eagles shot 45 percent from the field and got to the free throw line 24 times, converting to 20 points.

The Pioneers will continue their two-game road trip with a non-divisional conference matchup with Western Kentucky Saturday at 6 p.m., at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky.