March 4, 2005

Final Stats

DENTON, Texas - Senior guard Tasha Jones (San Antonio, Texas) scored 15 points in her last game as a Pioneer, but it was not enough as the University of Denver women's basketball team fell to Arkansas-Little Rock, 50-48, in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship today at Texas Woman's University. The Pioneers end the season with a 6-22 mark. UALR improve to 10-18 and will play the No. 1 East Western Kentucky Hilltoppers tomorrow.

"The difference in the game was Arkansas-Little Rock's ability to offensive rebound," said head coach Pam Tanner. "We said going into this game that the team who took care of the basketball, executed and rebounded the ball was going to win the game. I give Arkansas-Little Rock credit for doing all of those things."

Junior forward Venice Adams (Luling, La.) had 12 for Denver, including a SBC Championship/Denver record 10-for-10 performance from the free-throw line. UALR's Alicia Cash led all scores with 20 points. Jocelyn Love added 19 for the Trojans. The Pioneers' defense limited UALR to just 35.1 percent (20-57) shooting, but gave up 15 offensive rebounds.

Both teams traded baskets early in the second half, but a Love layup at the 15:05 make pulled UALR to within in 34-33. A 5-2 Trojan run capped by a Cash layup with 12 minutes remaining in the game gave UALR a 38-36 lead. Denver used an 8-2 run over the next five minutes to move back in front, 44-41. UALR's Andrea Keys scored four consecutive points in the closing minutes to give the Trojans a 49-48 lead. The Pioneers had the ball with 13 seconds remaining, but committed their 16 turnover before getting a shot attempted off.

The Pioneers came out smoking, opening an early 7-0 lead. A 3-pointer by Jones helped Denver build on its momentum and increase its lead to 19-10 with 10:32 remaining the in the first half. An 11-0 run capped off by a layup by UALR's Tamara Humphrey gave the Trojans their first lead of the game at 21-19 with 6:17 left in the half. The Pioneers responded as a Jones layup in the closing seconds gave Denver a 26-24 advantage at the break.

UALR's Cash lead all scorers with 12 points, making six of the Trojans 10 field goals. The Pioneers' defense limited the Trojans to only 37.0 percent (10-27) shooting. Jones had 10 points for Denver.