Feb. 10, 2005

Final Stats

The University of Denver women's basketball team was unable to stop Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Patrice Holmes (17 pts.) and fell to defending SBC Tournament Champion Middle Tennessee State (71-45) Thursday at the Murphy Center. Denver falls to 4-18, 2-8 on the season, while Middle Tennessee improves to 15-7, 7-2 on the season.

The Pioneers battled valiantly against the Sun Belt Conference leader in scoring defense (53.3 points per game) that ranks 12th in the nation in steals (12.4) with 45 points before relinquishing a 71-45 decision. Venice Adams (Luling, La.) was held scoreless in the first half, but notched 11 in the second period to lead the Pioneers along with Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas) who came off the bench to record 11 points.

"This was a frustrating game to watch because I don't think we played with the trademark characteristics of Pioneer Basketball," Head Coach Pam Tanner said. "Our trademarks are hard work, playing defense and understanding and executing the scouting report. I don't think we did any of those things very well tonight."

In the first half, Denver battled through full-court pressure by the home team and played even with Middle Tennessee with the exception of the opening three minutes of the game. The Lady Raiders scored the first nine points of the game and the last four of the half to take a 29-15 advantage to the locker room. SBC Preseason Player of the Year Patrice Holmes scored 13 points in the first half to lead Middle. Jones came off the bench to lead the Pioneers with seven points.

Denver shot better from the field, connecting on 41.7 percent of its shots (20-48), but the Pioneers were outrebounded 42-24 and committed 24 turnovers on the night. Middle Tennessee shot 46.9 percent from the floor (30-64) and took 19 steals. In addition to Holmes with 17 points, Chrissy Givens and Starr Orr added 11 points apiece. Tia Stovall scored 10 points for the Lady Raiders.

Denver returns home for the next three games, the first of which on Saturday at 2 p.m., at Hamilton Gymnasium against Western Kentucky. The game will be the first game of a double header with the men's basketball team who will host Middle Tennessee at 4 p.m.