Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS - The University of Denver women's basketball team held off a scrappy New Orleans team, winning 64-57 in the Human Performance Center on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo) tied her career-high with 18 points and five three-pointers made. Junior Alisha Godette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) set her career-high with 19 points, 11 in the second half. Godette added seven rebounds. Junior Jenna Cole (Lincoln, Neb.) recorded 12 points, while junior Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) led Denver with eight rebounds.

With under a minute remaining in the game and Denver (15-9, 9-5) in the double-bonus situation, UNO's Jada Frazier hit a three to cut the DU lead to six. Sophomore Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.) went 1-of-2 at the line, then UNO's Cookie Johnson hit another three to put the Lady Privateers within four. The Pioneers finished by executing at the line, hitting 3-of-4 to hold on for the win.

"I thought it was a hard-fought game on the road," DU Head Coach Pam Tanner said. "Ty got hurt early in the game, but our team found a way to win against a tough press. I thought we won the hustle points, chasing down lose balls, and that was the difference in the game. I am really proud of our ability to find a way to win."

After getting up 13, Denver went on a 6:21 scoreless run, allowing UNO (8-18, 2-13 SBC)to get back into the game, cutting the lead to five, before Cole hit a three-pointer at 6:01 remaining in the game to push DU's lead back to eight.

Denver started the second half on a 16-4 run, pushing the lead back to double-digits, with Godette scoring the first five in the half. Le'Della English nailed back-to-back three-pointers for the Lady Privateers but Meyer drained her fourth three-pointer of the contest to put DU back up 10.

Godette recorded eight of DU's first 13 points. The Pioneers led by as many as 12, going 4-of-5 from in the early goings of the first half. UNO clawed back into the game, getting within one, as Denver went scoreless for 6:23. Meyer hit a three late in the first half to push the Pioneer lead back to five. DU was up 26-23 at the half.

Senior point guard Tyesha Lowery (Arlington, Texas) suffered an injury early in the game and missed the remainder of the contest.

DU returns home on Tuesday, Feb. 13 to take on Arkansas State (16-8, 9-4 SBC) at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium in SBC action in a game that was originally scheduled for Dec. 22. Mitch Hyder and Mary Kay Mauro will call the action on www.denverpioneers.com.