Nov. 30, 2002

Box Score

Ashley Atkinson scored 13 points to lead the University of Denver women's basketball team to a 62-43 victory over Gonzaga Saturday in the Hawaian Airlines Rainbow Classic. Denver improves to 1-3 on the season, while Gonzaga falls to 2-2. The Pioneers will take on DePaul Sunday 4:10 p.m., MT.

Denver got off to a fast start for the first time of the season, getting out to a 14-4 lead with just six minutes off the clock. The Pioneers mounted a 9-0 run on the strength of senior guard Ashley Atkinson who scored seven points in the run, including her first three pointer of the game. Gonzaga responded with a three pointer to inch back to 14-7, before Denver scored back-to-back buckets, including a trey for Nicky Eason (19-7). The Bulldogs closed the score to 19-12 before Denver notched the next four points. Stephanie Hart knocked away a pass and went coast to coast to score the Pioneers' 23rd point and give Denver a 23-12 lead with eight minutes to play in the period. Denver earned its largest lead of the half at 14 points when sophomore Tasha Jones hit back-to-back three pointers to give the Pioneers a 31-17 advantage. The Pioneers went to the locker room with their first halftime lead of the season at 33-20.

"We were finally able to put the ball in the basket," head coach Pam Tanner said. "Our defense has been playing well, and tonight was a continuation of how hard we played against UConn. If we can consistently play at the level, we will be a great basketball team."

After the Bulldogs scored the first bucket of the second half, Denver mounted a 14-0 run to gain a 27-point lead at 49-22. Denver earned a 20-point lead just three minutes into the period at 42-22 when Atkinson hit her second three-pointer of the game. The Pioneers continued their assault with four different players scoring. Gonzaga mounted a 15-7 run, including an 8-0 onslaught midway through the half to get within 16 points. But the Pioneers held on to record a 19-point victory.

Denver shot a season high 41 percent from the field in the first half and held Gonzaga to 27.6 percent. On the game, the Pioneers shot 40.3 percent. Nakia Carlisle scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds. Hart added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Ashley Burke led the Bulldogs with 14 points, and Ashley Anderson had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

"We had great balance tonight; it's hard for anybody to defend a team with the kind of balance we demonstrated tonight," Tanner said. "Stephanie (Hart) had a double-double, but she does so many things that don't show up on the stat sheet as well.

"This is an important win for us, the first win, because all the things we are trying to teach make more sense when you are winning. It's important for the young players to see the system and philosophy we are teaching be successful."