Feb. 27, 2003

Box Score

Despite a career-high 23 points from Nicky Eason (Carpentersville, Ill./Barrington), the University of Denver women's basketball team fell to Sun Belt Conference West Division leader New Mexico State 86-76 Thursday at Magness Arena. Denver continued a six game slide and fell to 12-16, 6-8 on the season, while NMSU improve to 16-10, 10-4.

New Mexico State broke open a close game with 11 unanswered points midway through the first period to pull ahead 32-16. Denver failed to score for four minutes during the run. The Pioneers played even with the Aggies for the remainder of the half, but trailed 51-34 at the intermission.

Denver started the second half with a 12-3 run to cut the New Mexico State lead to eight points (54-46) with just three minutes gone in the period. Ashley Atkinson (Springfield, Mo./Kickapoo) and Eason started the surge with a three pointer each. The Pioneers cut the lead to seven points when Stephanie Hart (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood) received a pass from Eason for an easy lay up to make the score 62-55. The Aggies rebuilt their lead to 15 points using a 12-3 run, capped by two three pointers from Princess Moore. The visitors led by as many as 16 points, but Denver got the score back to 10 to finish the contest 86-76.

"We did some good things in this game despite the final score," head coach Pam Tanner said. "We took care of the basketball and fought back when we were down by 16 points. We had five players score in double figures, but you can't give a team 86 points and win a game - that's the bottom line."

Five Pioneers scored in double figures, led by Eason's 23 points. Hart added 12 points, and Tasha Jones contributed 10 points. Ragan Neblett fouled out with 5:29 to play with 10 points and three rebounds. Atkinson fouled out at 1:49 with 12 points.

The Pioneers remain in fourth place in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference, and with one game remaining in the regular season, will likely secure the fourth seed in the upcoming conference tournament March 6-11 in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Pioneers will play their final game of the regular season Saturday vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at 1 p.m., at Magness Arena. The game will be the final home appearance for three Pioneer seniors - Ashley Atkinson, Kellie Carwell and Misty Staton.