Feb. 7, 2004

Box Score

In a must-win game for the Sun Belt Conference race, the University of Denver women's basketball team recorded a season-high halftime point total with 44 tallies, and held division-leading Louisiana-Lafayette to 27 points to earn a commanding advantage and the eventual 73-49 victory Saturday afternoon at Magness Arena. Denver improved to 11-10, 4-5 on the season, while UL-Lafayette fell to 11-9, 5-4.

Sophomore point guard Tyesha Lowery (Arlington, Texas) recorded a career-high 18 points, including six points in the game-opening 13-2 run, and two 3-pointers. Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas) scored her first 3-pointer in two games and finished with a season-high 22 points, including a career-high tying four 3-pointers. Ragan Neblett (Arvada, Colo.) added 11 points.

Denver shot 53 percent from the field in the first half, and finished with 42.9 percent on the game, including 57.1 percent from long range. UL-Lafayette finished the game with 33.3 percent from the field and was led by Anna Petrakova with 18 points.

"This is a big win for us in terms of Sun Belt Conference standings," Head Coach Pam Tanner said. "Ty was the difference in this game. She started us on offense and defense. In addition, Tasha was a leader in ever sense of the word. I am proud of the way the team played today; they came in with the right attitude and proved themselves."

Denver got out to 13-2 lead as Lowery notched six points and Jones added five straight to cap the Pioneer run. UL-Lafayette notched back-to-back threes en route to a 12-2 run, bringing the Rajun Cajuns within one point at 15-14. But, Denver mounted a 19-5 run fueled by seven points from Jones and eight points from Lowery to give the Pioneers a commanding 15-point lead (34-19) with four minutes to play in the half. Denver increased its margin by two to take a 44-27 lead to the locker room at the half.

In the second half, Denver built its lead to 31 points midway through the period on the strength of three 3-pointers - two from freshman point guard Kaitlyn King (Albuquerque, N.M.) and one from Jones. The Pioneers coasted to a 24-point margin of victory (73-49).

Denver will try to remain in contention for Sun Belt Conference post season play when they travel to Western Kentucky next Thursday (Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.) and return home to host Middle Tennessee on Sunday at 1 p.m.