Jan. 31, 2004

Box Score

The University of Denver women's basketball team opened a 15-point lead late in the first half and fought off the New Orleans offensive the remainder of the afternoon to emerge with a 58-51 victory at Lakefront Arena. Denver improves to 10-9, 3-4 in the Sun Belt Conference, while New Orleans falls to 7-11, 2-5.

The Pioneers decided the game early in the first half. With the game tied at 9-9, Denver used a 15-0 run to open a commanding lead. Tyesha Lowery (Arlington, Texas) made three steals which were converted to easy layups for the Pioneers to cap the dominating Denver run. Stephanie Hart (Shoreline, Wash.) scored six points in the game-turning effort. New Orleans finished the half on a 9-5 run to cut the deficit to 10 points (30-20) at the half.

"After an emotional loss to South Alabama on Thursday, this was a good win for us to earn," Head Cocach Pam Tanner said. "Our defense was effective, and we executed our game plan very well. Tyesha (Lowery) was a difference-maker in this game; she demonstrated leadership on the court, played good defense, and made good decisions."

Denver fought off the first New Orleans comeback attempt early in the second half when the Privateers cut the lead to nine points with a 6-0 run to make the score 37-28. Denver responded with a 7-2 effort to get back to a 14-point advantage. Ragan Neblett (Arvada, Colo.) buried a 3-pointer to fuel the Denver offense.

New Orleans scored an 11-2 run with six minutes to play to make it a three-point game (52-49) with three minutes to play. Chelsea Core nailed a three pointer in the run to give the Privateers life. Denver played good defense and converted free throws down the stretch to hang on for the victory.

Lowery made the biggest steal of the game with a minute to play. Lowery fed Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas) for the fast break layup to give Denver a 55-49 lead. Kaitlyn King (Albuquerque, N.M.) made one of two free throws on two separate trips to the line to inch the Pioneer lead to 57-49. Monique Taylor scored with 11 seconds to play, but Lowery got one more free throw for the final score 58-51.

Denver was led by Sarah Cyran (Broomfield, Colo.) with 14 points, and Jones added 12 points. Monique Taylor led New Orleans with 16 points.

The Pioneers will now return home for a two-game home stand to host West Division foes New Mexico State on Thursday (Feb. 5) and Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday (Feb. 7). Next week will complete the first round of West Division competition.