Feb. 2, 2002

Box Score

The University of Denver women's basketball team dropped a key Sun Belt Conference contest to division-leading North Texas (81-74) Saturday at Magness Arena. The Pioneers fall to 10-12, 6-4 on the season while the Lady Eagles improve to 14-6, 8-2 and increase their stronghold in the division race.

The Pioneers lost senior point guard and leading scorer Nikki Weddle (Denver, Colo./Montbello/CU) just two minutes into the contest when she collided with Nicole Thomas and landed awkwardly on her right ankle. She did not return to the game.

Free throw and rebounds spelled defeat for the Pioneers as North Texas connected on 23 of 26 free throw opportunities and won the battle of the boards 46-30. The Lady Eagles were especially successful on the offensive boards, totaling 21.

The Pioneers were able to edge ahead of North Texas 26-20 midway through the first half when freshman Nicky Eason (Carpentersville, Ill./Barrington) hit a three pointer to cap a 13-9 Denver run. But that would be the last Pioneer lead of the game. North Texas responded with a 10-2 run to earn a 31-28 lead and maintained an advantage the remainder of the half to take a 37-34 lead to the locker room.

In the second half, the Pioneers fell behind by as many as 14 points, but came within three points with under a minute to play when Ragan Neblett (Arvada, Colo./Pomona) hit her third three pointer of the game to make the score 77-74. Trailing 71-57 with five minutes to play, Denver turned up the defensive pressure, causing North Texas to commit turnovers and personal fouls. Misty Staton (Duke, Okla./Duke) hit eight free throws down the stretch to help the Pioneers close in on the Lady Eagles. With the game within three points (77-74) and just thirty seconds to play, freshman Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas/Holmes) missed two free throws that would have made it a one-point game. North Texas converted two free throws and earned a layup in transition after breaking the Pioneer full-court press defense to earn the 81-74 decision.

Neblett recorded a career-high 19 points off the bench for the Pioneers, while Kellie Carwell and Staton added 10 points apiece. North Texas was led by Mitchell with 24 points, in addition to Shannan Stephenson and Vilma Grismanauskaite who scored 12 apiece.

The Pioneers will play one game next week, traveling to play South Alabama in Mobile, Ala., on Thursday February 7.