Dec. 5, 2003

Box Score

The University of Denver women's basketball team lost to Idaho State University, 95-61, Friday at Reed Gymnasium. The Pioneers fall to 3-1 on the season, while ISU improves to 5-1.

Averaging 91 points per contest coming into the game, Idaho State imposed their offensive will early in the game, gaining a 10-point lead eight minutes into the contest, and finished with a lop-sided 34-point decision. It is the worst defeat for the Pioneers since Denver lost to NCAA Champion University of Connecticut (85-29) Nov. 29 2002.

In the first half, the Pioneers limited the Bengals to just six points in the opening five minutes of the contest, but Denver managed just two points from the free throw line (6-2). ISU turned up the scoring, rattling off a 7-3 run to open a 10-point lead at 15-5 with 12 minutes to play in the first stanza. The high-scoring team continued the offensive onslaught, mounting a 22-4 run to go ahead 35-9 with seven minutes to play in the half. The Pioneers failed to score for five minutes during the barrage. Denver ended its dry spell with a 9-2 run to get the score to 35-16 with five minutes in the half, but the Bengals finished the half with a 16-9 run to take a 25-point advantage to the locker room at half (52-27). Denver ended the first half shooting just 28.9 percent from the field while the home team shot a blistering 60 percent.

Denver opened the second half with a 9-2 run to close the gap to 18 points (36-54), but fell quiet for four minutes while ISU netted 15 points in a 15-8 run to get the lead up to 26 points at 71-45 with under 10 minutes to play in the game. The Pioneers could get no closer in the game, surrendering 53.2 percent shooting from the floor to the Bengals.

"We got beat in every phase of the game," head coach Pam Tanner said. "We also let our in ability on offense to affect our defense. We will have to pick up our intensity on both ends of the floor."

Freshman Laura Granzow (Springfield, Mo./Kickapoo) led Denver with 17 points and nine rebounds. Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas) added 12 points. Denver shot just 32.1 percent from the field. Molly Hays scored a game-high 23 points to lead Idaho State, and three Bengals reached double figure scoring.

Denver will return home to host in-state opponent Colorado State Thurs., Dec. 11 at Magness Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcast live on KCKK AM 1600 in the Denver area.