Jan. 25, 2007

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - Juniors Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) and Jenna Cole (Lincoln, Neb.) hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions in overtime as the University of Denver women's basketball team dropped the Troy University Trojans, 65-62, Thursday evening at Trojan Arena in Sun Belt Conference action. Denver improved to 12-7 overall and 7-3 in the SBC, while Troy fell to 10-10 and 3-7.

"It is hard to win in the Sun Belt on the road and the fact we already have three road wins is huge," head coach Pam Tanner said. "As off-the-mark as we played in 35 minutes of the game, with the exception of two minutes to end the first half and three minutes to end the second, we played solid in the overtime. I could not be more proud."

In overtime Senior Tyesha Lowery (Arlington, Texas) hit a runner to start the extra period and had two free throws with 00:10 remaining to sandwich the threes by Meyer and Cole and carry the Pioneers to victory. The Trojans recorded seven points in overtime.

Lowery finished with 19 points. Cole had with seven points in the game and Meyer's trey was her only made basket of the game.

"We got so many contributions from so many different people," said Tanner. "Brooke hit her only basket when we needed breathing room. Cole hit a huge three. Nnenna got us to overtime. I could not be more proud."

Denver's offense came out sluggish in the second half, allowing Troy to lead by as many as 10. Until 3:23 to go in the game Denver could only get within six points, but DU closed the second half on a 12-4 run, including a three-pointer by sophomore Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.) with 00:12 left to send the game to overtime. Akotaobi recorded a season-high 11 points and matched a career-high eight rebounds in the game.

In the first half, Cole hit a short jumper to cap a 5-0 Denver run and tie the game at 13-13. The Trojans then went on a 9-0 run before DU's defense held Troy scoreless for the final 5:49 of the first half. Denver closed out the half on a 7-0 run to cut the Trojans' lead to two, 22-20, as both teams went into the locker room.

Juniors Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) and Alisha Godette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded 13 and 12 points, respectively. Kylie Morrissy led Troy with 18 points.

DU returns home to protect its nine-game home winning streak against the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers (13-5, 7-2 SBC East) on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m., the late game of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team. The game can be heard live on www.denverpioneers.com, as well as KEPN AM 1600 with Mitch Hyder and Mary Kay Mauro calling the action.