March 6, 2003

Box Score

The University of Denver women's basketball team fell to Arkansas State (66-59) in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Thursday at EA Diddle Arena, bowing out of the tournament and ending the season. The Pioneers lost their eighth straight game to finish the 2002-03 campaign 12-18, 6-8. Arkansas State improved to 11-17 and advanced to the quarterfinal round Saturday.

Denver exploded with a 22-7 run spanning seven minutes to take its first lead of the game at 51-47 midway through the second stanza, but could not sustain the momentum. Arkansas State came back to tie the game and then won the battle down the stretch. Catrice Webster scored 11 of her team's final 12 points as the Pioneers missed four of their last five shots and committed three critical turnovers.

The Lady Indians began the second half by scoring the first six points to pull away by 13 points (40-27) before Denver found the scoreboard. ASU built a 43-29 lead before Ashley Atkinson scored eight straight points to lead the Pioneers' run.

With the game tied at 56 points apiece and just under four minutes to play, ASU scored three straight points as the Pioneers missed three shots and turned the ball over once. Ragan Neblett landed a short jumper to bring the Pioneers within one point (59-58). Webster converted a layup to put the Lady Indians back on top 61-58, and continued to finish the scoring for ASU.

"This is a frustrating loss because we had several opportunities to win the game," head coach Pam Tanner said. "We played hard, but we made mistakes at critical times and didn't do the things we needed to do to win. It didn't help that we got down early, but we did a good job of battling back."

In the first half, ASU mounted a 12-3 run to lead by nine points at the midway point of the first half as Rachel Porter capped the run with a three pointer. The Pioneers turned the ball over, giving ASU a fast break opportunity and their first 10-point lead of the game at 20-10. The Lady Indians continued on a 17-6 run to push their lead to 12 points at 22-10 with 10 minutes to play in the period. Denver responded by scoring nine straight points to come with in three points of the lead (22-19). Nicky Eason capped the Pioneer surge with a three pointer. ASU ended the half by outscoring the Pioneers12-8 to take a 34-27 lead to the locker room. Eason ended the period with 12 points and missed just one shot (5-6).

Eason led all scorers with 20 points, and Atkinson finished with 18. Amber Abraham led ASU with 19 points, and Webster scored 16 while Porter added 11.

Prior to the contest, several Pioneers were honored for their academic achievement over the season. Commissioner's List Awardees (3.5 GPA or higher): Ashley Atkinson, Kellie Carwell, Nicky Eason, Stephanie Hart. Honor Roll Members (3.0-3.5 GPA): Sarah Cyran, Katie Davenport, Tasha Jones, Misty Staton.