DENTON (1/12/06) Jenna Cole hit two free throws with 1.5 seconds left on the clock to give Denver a 56-54 victory against the North Texas women’s basketball team on Thursday evening in the Super Pit.
The Pioneers (8-6, 1-1 Sun Belt) snapped a Mean Green (12-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) five-game winning streak and took the lead in the series, 6-5. DU also broke North Texas’ seven-game winning streak at the Super Pit.
Senior Erika Bobo tied the game at 54-54 with a layup after forcing a Denver turnover. The Mean Green had been down, 54-50, before a Sanetra Jackson basket and then the layup by Bobo with under a minute to play.
Denver’s Brooke Meyer missed a three-pointer on the ensuing Pioneer possession and Cole was then fouled after coming down with the rebound.
The Mean Green held a 49-42 lead with 7:13 left in the game but Denver scored the next 10 points to go ahead, 52-49, with 4:02 on the clock. Mia Ajewku hit a free throw to bring North Texas within two, 52-50, but Denver’s Sara Benhem responded with a layup to go ahead by four.
Ajekwu was the only Mean Green player in double figures with 14 points. Three of the Denver starters finished with points in double figures.
North Texas and Denver exchanged leads in the first half, but the Mean Green used an 11-8 run to finish ahead at the half, 34-31.
Denver forced 21 North Texas turnovers and recorded 11 steals.
North Texas returns to action on Monday evening with another Mean Green doubleheader. The women face FIU at 5 pm, while the men play Denver in the nightcap.
