Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
2-5
Denver
3-2
Hot Second Half Lifts Pioneers Over Rams
12/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2006
The University of Denver Pioneers (3-2) shot 60 percent in the second half of Sunday's game at Moby Arena to pull away from the Colorado State women's basketball team (2-5), 65-53, extending Colorado State's losing streak to three games.
The Rams opened up a lead early in the game, taking a 4-0 lead just 39 seconds into the contest, but Denver responded as they would all night when Colorado State made a run. The two teams battled throughout the first half which included 11 lead changes and four ties before ending in a 26-25 advantage for DU.
Coming out of the half, Freshman Juanise Cornell's tradition three-point play gave the Rams a 28-26 lead, but a DU layup on the fast break quickly knotted the score at 28 with 19:28 remaining in the contest.
The Rams would never regain the lead, as the DU's shooters caught fire, and the Rams' defense was unable to keep up on Pioneer fast breaks. Denver shot an incredible 66.7 percent (4-for-6) from beyond the arc in the second half and held Colorado State at bay by outrunning the Rams to the tune of a 12-2 advantage in fast break points in the game - 10-0 in the second half.
Just as Denver was heating up, the Rams went cold. After shooting 42.3 percent in the opening half, Colorado State hit at just a 27.3 percent clip in the second stanza and ended the contest shooting 34.9 percent (22-for-63) overall.
The University of Denver's Andie Mason hit three of the team's second-half three-pointers and finished 4-for-6 from long range for 12 points in the contest. Forward Jenna Cole led Denver with 17 points.
Senior Molly Nohr led Colorado State with 12 points in the game. Cornell tallied a career-high 10 points and pulled down six rebounds. Marilyn Moulton led the Rams with eight boards in the game, as Colorado State once again outrebounded their opponents, 43-31.
Sara Hunter was held in check for much of the contest with constant pressure from DU's Tyesha Lowery. Hunter finished with eight points and six rebounds. Freshman Kelly Jo Mullaney, the leading scorer in the Mountain West Conference coming into the game (19.0 ppg.) was held to just five points.
The Rams will look to end their three-game skid at the University of Northern Colorado on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The opening tip is set for 7 p.m. from Greeley, Colo.
