Feb. 21, 2007

Box Score

MONROE, La. - The University of Denver women's basketball team came from behind to win its final regular season game, a 65-52 win over Louisiana-Monroe Wednesday evening at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Pioneers closed out the regular season at 18-10 overall and 12-6 in the Sun Belt Conference, its best record since 2000-01. ULM dropped to 14-14, 4-13 in the SBC.

With the win DU clinches at least the fifth seed in the upcoming SBC tournament. The victory over the Warhawks marks the 500th win in the program's 32-year history.

"I challenged the team at halftime not to win the game but to play at a level that would give us momentum going into the conference tournament," head coach Pam Tanner said. "Winning would be a by-product of that intensity. They responded like the champions I believe that they are."

Junior Alisha Godette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) posted a career-high 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Senior Tyesha Lowery (Arlington, Texas) had 17 points and three steals. Lowery had 84 steals on the season, second on DU's single season record list, just two shy of tying Heather Holter (1991-92) for the school record.

DU started the second half by holding ULM scoreless for the first 5:57 of the half. Denver led by as many as 15 points. Louisiana-Monroe cut DU's lead to eight but the Pioneers', led by Lowery, kept the pressure. Lowery scored five of DU's last seven points.

In the first half, DU got out to a 5-0 lead before the Warhawks went on a 12-2 tear and DU soon trailed by five. Godette hit back-to-back free throws to tie the game at 15-15. The Pioneers got out to a five-point lead, thanks in part to nine points by Godette, but they could not fend off ULM. The Warhawks outscored DU, 16-9, in the final 6:28 of the first half. Senior Ali Butler (Longmont, Colo.) hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 29-29 but ULM's Ebony Williams hit a lay-up at the buzzer to give the Warhawks a 31-29 lead at half.

LaJeanna Howard led ULM with 19 points and seven rebounds in the game.

DU hosts the first ever postseason game in the Pioneers' Division I history on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Magness Arena, as they play the first round of the SBC tournament. DU's opponent will be decided as SBC action concludes this weekend. The game can be heard live on www.denverpioneers.com with Mary Kay Mauro calling the action.