Nov. 29, 2003

Box Score

San Antonio, Texas - Tyesha Lowery (Arlington, Texas) scored 11 points in the second half, including nine in the final five minutes of the game to lead the University of Denver women's basketball team to a 58-55 victory over Texas-San Antonio Saturday at the UTSA Classic Tournament. The Pioneers improve to 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2000-01. UTSA falls to 2-3.

"This was one of the best team victories in Denver Division I history," head coach Pam Tanner said. "We did a good job on defense in the first half, but we needed to pick up the intensity. We changed our offense a little in the second half and opened up more options for us. We got significant contributions from 10 different players."

After trailing by nine at the half, Denver opened a 10-point lead late in the game and held on for a three-point victory. Coming back from the intermission, UTSA increased its lead to 11 points with two free throws. Denver stormed back with a 10-0 run capped by two three pointers by Ragan Neblett (Arvada, Colo.) to bring the Pioneers within one point (31-30) just four minutes into the contest. The teams traded the lead three times in the next four minutes before the Pioneers mounted an 8-0 run to take a 48-40 lead with just under eight minutes to play. Freshman Laura Granzow (Springfield, Mo.) scored four points in the 8-0 Pioneer run, working inside for the scores. It was the Roadrunners with the scoring drought in the second half, going scoreless for three minutes while the Pioneers worked on the eight-point run.

UTSA converted two free throws to make the score 48-42 before Lowery scored back-to-back buckets to give the Pioneers a 52-42 lead. UTSA scored five unanswered points to whittle the Denver lead to just five points (52-47). Lowery controlled the game down the stretch, scoring four points, and making the final game-sealing steal at the end of regulation.

In the first half, Denver shot just 26.9 percent from the field, and fell behind early 13-8. The Pioneers fought back to 15-14, but two scoring droughts of four minutes each spelled trouble for the Pioneers. The Roadrunners mounted a 10-2 run midway through the half and were able to gain a nine-point advantage with four minutes remaining in the half. Shooting 44.0 percent from the field, UTSA took a 29-20 lead to the locker room. Neblett kept the Pioneers in the game, scoring 10 points in the first half.

The Pioneers shot 57.1 percent from the field in the second half, and held UTSA to 35.3 percent. With just nine turnovers for the game, Denver caused 19 Roadrunner turnovers. Neblett led the Pioneers in scoring with 16. Dewella Holliday led UTSA with 13 points.

Neblett and Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas) were named to the all-classic team. Neblett finished with 33 points for the two-game classic, and Jones added 17 in two games.

The Pioneers are in action next when they travel to Pocatello, Idaho to take on Idaho State Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.