Jan. 26, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - Freshman guard Jenna Cole (Lincoln, Neb.) recorded 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting but could not lead the Pioneers past South Alabama as the Denver dropped a 74-66 decision at home Thursday evening. The loss drops the Pioneers to 9-9 (3-4 SBC), while the Jaguars improve to 9-9 (3-3 SBC). Senior forward Venice Adams (Luling, La.) added 14 points and eight boards. South Alabaman's JoAnna Williams led all scorers with a career-high 32 points.

The Pioneers started the game quickly by controlling the tip and earned the first bucket of the game on a lay up by junior Tyesha Lowry (Arlington, Texas). The Jaguars answered and hit a jumper from the outside and converted on a DU turnover to take an early lead, but Adams went coast-to coast to tie the game at 4-4 in the early goings. Denver went on a 7-0 run behind buckets from Lowery and a trey by Cole to take the lead. The Jaguars ended the Pioneer run at the 11:35 mark with a quick bucket in the paint. Adams added to the Pioneer tally with a bucket underneath, but South Alabama responded with a jumper, cutting the DU lead to four points. South Alabama's Amanda Leonard got the shooters on a roll with a long two-point basket and brought the Jaguars within two with just over nine minutes to play in the first frame. South Alabama cut the lead to one, but Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.) hit a trey through the right side to extend the DU lead to 18-22 with a little over five minutes remaining in the frame. DU used their defensive intensity to force USA turnovers, which resulted in points on the other end. Cole pushed the lead to 11 points before the Jaguars cut the Pioneer lead back down to seven.

With Denver holding a 37-31 lead after the break, the Jaguars started the half with a quick jumper and a trey in the first minute of play to cut the DU lead to one. USA's Williams hit a jumper to give South Alabama its first lead of the game. Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) woke the Pioneers up with a 3-pointer, but the DU lead was short lived as the Jags answered with a runner by Williams. Akotaobi came off the bench and capitalized on a 3-point-play to tie the game at 43 at the 15:56 mark and moments later a bucket by Benham gave the Pioneers a 45-43 lead with a little over 14 minutes remaining in the frame. Free throws by Valencia Boswell tied the game at 45 and a DU turnover lead to a Williams 3-pointer, which gave the Jaguars a three-point lead. The Jags kept the momentum and opened a five point lead before Cole hit a jumper through the left side. South Alabama's Williams had the hot hand and nailed a trey to extend their lead to six points. The Pioneers got buckets from Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) and Cole but could not find a way to stop the Jaguars as they held a 61-51 advantage with eight minutes remaining. The Pioneers got within six points but couldn't pull out the victory as the Jags took the 74-66 victory.

The Pioneers continue their five-game homestand Jan. 28 when they host Sun Belt Conference newcomer Troy in Magness Arena for a 2 p.m. game. Prior to the matchup, DU women's basketball host its annual alumni game at noon in Hamilton Gym.