Nov. 26, 2003
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First Road Trip - Destination: Texas
Denver travels to San Antonio, Texas for the first road trip of the season, and will take on two teams the Pioneers have never faced: Western Carolina (Southern Conference) and Texas-San Antonio (Southland Conference). Seven newcomers will be making their inaugural voyage as Pioneers. The young Pioneers opened the season well with a resounding victory over regional rival Wyoming (62-39). Denver played dominating defense, using a pressing trapping style to cause 31 turnovers and take 16 steals.
Junior Jones Leads the Way
Tasha Jones scored 20 points to lead the Pioneers to a 62-39 victory over Wyoming in the season opening game. She was 7-10 from the field, including 3-4 from 3-point range. Jones solidified a starting lineup that included two freshmen, including Kaitlyn King at point guard. Tasha scored 47 points in the preseason exhibition season, including 27 points on 10-10 shooting vs. Northern Colorado.
Home for the Holidays
One player will be home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Tasha Jones' hometown is San Antonio where Denver will play in the Texas-San Antonio Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 28-29. Jones' family will provide Thanksgiving dinner for the entire team. Jones played at Holmes High School and was named all-city and All-Greater San Antonio as a senior in 2000-01.
Lowery Returns to Home State
Sophomore point guard Tyesha Lowery returns to her home state of Texas as well. Lowery hails from Arlington and will be making her season debut after sitting out the first game of the year. Lowery served a one-game suspension vs. Wyoming for playing in an unsanctioned event over the summer. The quick guard also sat out the 2002-03 season due to an ACL injury.
Career Night for Adams
Sophomore Venice Adams (Luling, La.) scored a career-high 13 points vs. Wyoming. She scored all of her points in the first half, shooting 5-5 from the field and 3-4 from the line. Adams' previous career mark was nine points vs. Iowa (12/12/02).
Last Time Out
Denver defeated Wyoming 62-39. The Denver team defense was intense and swarming vs. Wyoming, causing 31 turnovers and taking 16 steals from the Cowgirls. The Pioneers caused three shot clock violations, and forced Wyoming into poor shot selection. Wyoming shot just 33.3 percent from the field for the game, 27.8 percent in the first half. Denver held the Cowgirls to 16 first-half points and 39 total tallies, the lowest opponent total since Dec. 16, 2001-02 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tasha Jones led the team with 20 points, and Venice Adams added a career-high 13.
Team Defense
Denver's team effort on defense was evident vs. Wyoming in the distribution of steals as six different players recorded a theft in the game. Senior forward Stephanie Hart led the way with a career-high seven steals. Freshmen Louise Gronemann and Kaitlyn King and sophomore Venice Adams each stole two, and Tasha Jones added one steal.
Team Offense
Denver's team effort was also evident in the scoring column vs. Wyoming. Outside of Jones (20) and Adams (13), two players contributed six points - Hart and Ragan Neblett and three players added three points - King, Natalie Swisa, and Katie Davenport; four players scored two points. In addition to the scoring column, every eligible player earned valuable playing experience.
Starting Freshmen
Two freshmen made their debuts in the starting lineup in the Pioneers' season-opening game vs. Wyoming. Point guard King and forward Gronemann began their collegiate careers in the starting lineup. King was the only true point guard for the game as Lowery served a one-game suspension for participating in an unsanctioned event over the summer. Senior Katie Davenport is limited due to injuries. King played 25 minutes, recording a solid performance, while Gronemann earned two points two assists and two steals.
In Exhibition Play
The women's basketball team completed the exhibition season with a convincing 84-62 victory over in-state foe Northern Colorado on Friday (Nov. 14). The Pioneers dominated the visiting squad that is in it first year of a four-year reclassification period to becoming a NCAA Division I school. After leading 43-31 at the half, Denver cruised to victory, allowing every eligible player to gain experience and many different combinations to see time together. The Pioneers shot 56.9 percent from the field (33-58), including 58.8 percent from long range (10-17).
Jones Perfect Night
Junior Tasha Jones had a perfect night against Northern Colorado. She led the team with 27 points on 10-10 shooting from the floor, including 7-7 from 3-point range. Jones also had three assists. The 27 points is one shy of her career high total of 28, and seven three pointers would have tied a school record (exhibition games do not count for records or stats). Jones also had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the first exhibition game vs. Sparta Praha.
Tanner Gets A Vote
Pam Tanner was recently named to the Board of Coaches who vote on the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Poll. Tanner is one of 40 NCAA Division I head coaches selected to cast a vote each week to decide the top 25 teams in the nation. All voters are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Pioneer Preview
The Pioneers feature a new look this year with the addition of seven newcomers. Ninth-year head coach Pam Tanner will also have seven returning letterwinners, including three starters. The Pioneers return second-leading scorer junior guard Tasha Jones (9.9 ppg.) along with senior forward Ragan Neblett who was the team's top three-point threat. Top rebounder senior forward Stephanie Hart returns to provide leadership for the young team. The Pioneers were 12-18, 6-9 in Sun Belt Conference play, and finished tied for fourth in the West Division in 2002-03.
Denver Picked Fourth
The Pioneers were picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in a preseason vote of the league's head coaches. New Mexico State was picked to win the West Division, followed by South Alabama and North Texas. New Orleans was tabbed to finish fifth and Louisiana-Lafayette sixth. Western Kentucky was picked to win the East Division.
Up Next
Denver's schedule will have the Pioneers on the road until Dec. 11 when they take on in-state rival Colorado State. Denver travels to the Texas-San Antonio tournament for Thanksgiving and then to Idaho State (Dec. 5) before returning home.
Radio/TV
The Pioneers are scheduled to have three games televised on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain this year. The games vs. New Mexico State (Feb. 5), Louisiana-Lafayette (Feb. 7), and Middle Tennessee (Feb. 15) will be seen in the Rocky Mountain Region. In addition, 25 games will be aired on KKFN 950 AM or its sister station 1600 KCKK. All games are available live on the DenverPioneers.com web site for a small subscription fee.
