Dec. 16, 2003

Box Score

SEATTLE, WASH.- The University of Denver women's basketball team relinquished a 82-51 decision to No. 23 University of Washington Tuesday at Bank of America Arena. Denver drops to an even 3-3 on the season while Washington improves to 6-1.

Denver was able to match the Huskies for the majority of the first half, but the PAC-10 foe out-muscled the Pioneers in the second half and received 29 points from the free throw line to leave with the 31-point victory. Denver was called for 33 fouls on the night, while the home team was whistled for 21.

"This was a good initiation for many of our young players," Head Coach Pam Tanner said. "We made some mistakes and had about a five-minute laps at the end of the first half. Anytime you do that against a good team, they will take advantage of it just like Washington did."

In the first half, Denver battled to a 23-23 tie with just five minutes remaining in the half despite shooting 25 percent from the field for the period. Venice Adams (Luling, La.) scored five points and grabbed a key offensive rebound for the put back to tie the game at 12 points midway through the half. Denver mounted a 7-2 run to tie the game for the second time at 23 points apiece with five minutes to play in the period. The Huskies muscled to a 19-4 run to end the half and take a 42-27 lead to the locker room. The Huskies shot 41 percent from the field and earned 17 chances from the charity stripe (13-17).

With three players saddled with four fouls apiece early in the second half, the Pioneers' depth was tested as junior center Sarah Cyran (Broomfield, Colo.) was sidelined with the flu. Catherine Andersen (Omaha, Neb.) fouled out of the game with 12 minutes to play, and Adams was forced to the sideline with five fouls with nine minutes to play, and hometown player Stephanie Hart (Shoreline, Wash.) fouled out of the game with seven minutes to play with five points and six rebounds.

The Pioneers shot 30 percent from the field on the night and converted just three baskets from long range. Junior guard Tasha Jones led the Pioneers with 11 points and added six rebounds. Washington had four players in double figure scoring, with Andrea Lalum leading the way with 14 points.

Denver returns home to host the Wells Fargo Tournament Dec. 20-21 with Kansas, Lafayette and Texas-Arlington participating. Denver will play Lafayette on Saturday (Dec. 20) in the first round at 2 p.m., at Magness Arena.