Feb. 24, 2005

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Senior guard Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas) scored 11 points and became the 15th Pioneer in the history of Denver women's basketball to score 1,000 career points, but it was not enough as the University of Denver's women's basketball team dropped to New Orleans 65-54 tonight in Lakefront Arena. New Orleans earns its second win of the season and improves to 2-24, (2-12 SBC), while the Pioneers drop to 6-20 (4-10 SBC).

" I am a little disappointed in our effort tonight," said head coach Pam Tanner. "Defensively, it just didn't happen, and we didn't shoot the ball well in the second half. We need to regroup now and go out and play a talented South Alabama team on Saturday."

The Pioneers ended the first half trailing by three points, 34-31. New Orleans went on an 18-5 run and led by 11 points (26-15) before a 3-pointer by Jones sparked a Denver comeback. A pair of baskets by senior Sarah Cyran (Broomfield, Colo.) and three-consecutive 3-pointers by Jones, freshman Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) and Samantha Winter (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) gave the Pioneers a one-point lead, 31-30, with 1:19 left in the first half. UNO's Joevone Markey recorded two jumpers to put the Privateers ahead by three points, 31-34 at the half.

UNO was 62.5 percent from the field (15-of-24) in the first made while the Pioneers made 12 of their attempts including seven 3-pointers.

The Pioneers and the Privateers went basket for basket early in the second half until UNO jumped out 14-4 run to lead by 10 points (48-38) with about 12 minutes left to play. Baskets by Winter, Meyer and Cyran cut UNO's lead to five points, but a three-point play by Markey sealed the win as the Pioneers could not relinquish the deficit. The Privateers went on to earn their second win of the season and defeated Denver 65-54.

Denver shot only 32 percent (8-of-25) in the second half and 38.8 percent for the game while the Privateers were 10-of-23 from the field in the second, making 25 of its attempts for the game.

Markey led all scorers with 17 points while Meyer and Jones led Denver scorers with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Cyran also added 11 points and grabbed five rebounds and Meyer tied her career-high number of 3-pointers in a single game with five.

Denver will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 26 for the second game of the two-game road trip at South Alabama.