Dec. 12, 2002

Box Score

Iowa City, IA. - The University of Denver women's basketball team fell to Big Ten opponent The University of Iowa (83-49) Thursday at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Denver falls to 2-6 on the season, while Iowa improves to 6-2.

After trailing 39-15 at the half, the Pioneers stepped up the scoring pace in the second half, led by Ashley Atkinson (Springfield, Mo./Kickapoo) who scored nine points in the first 10 minutes of the half, including two three pointers. Nicky Eason (Carpentersville, Ill./Barrington) scored 12 points in a 17-8 Denver run late in the second half to close the gap to, 67-48, with five minutes to play. Eason finished as the Pioneers' leading scorer with 14 points after scoring just two in the first period. Atkinson extended her double-digit scoring streak to five games, finishing with 13 points. Venice Adams (Luling, La./Ursuline) started in place of Amber Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) in the second half and was just shy of her first career double-double with nine points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes of work.

"Venice (Adams) was definitely a bright spot for us tonight," head coach Pam Tanner said. "She played with intensity and executed the game plan. No matter what the score is, she plays consistently."

Denver shot 32.4 percent from the field in the second half and 27.5 for the game. The Hawkeyes cooled down in the second half, shooting 39.5 percent from the field. Denver battled on the boards, grabbing 43 rebounds to Iowa's 48. The Pioneers also had 14 steals to Iowa's 10.

Iowa got out to an 11-0 lead to start the game as Denver missed its first six shots. Atkinson got the Pioneers on the board five minutes into the contest with a short jumper in the lane. Denver made just seven of 32 shots while the Hawkeyes converted 14-28 opportunities for a 50 percent field goal percentage in the first half. Atkinson was able to shake the defense free for just six shots, scoring four points in the first stanza.

"We have struggled with our intensity level to start games," Tanner said. "I think all teams are going to make some mistakes in December, but it's the teams that play with energy and intensity that are going to be successful at this time of the year."

The Pioneers return home to begin a three-game home stand that begins with a game against Southwest Missouri State on Monday (Dec. 16) at 7 p.m. Denver will stay home to host the Pioneer Classic Dec. 20-21 with Princeton, Morehead State and Northwestern participating.