DENVER, Colo. (2/18/06) The Denver Pioneers rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to knock off the North Texas women’s basketball team 74-69 from the Magness Arena. The loss drops North Texas (17-8, 7-6) out of the first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division.

“This was a really difficult game because we played so well in the first half,” said North Texas head coach Tina Slinker. “I felt like they played really well. On the offensive end we needed someone else to step up to go along with Mia (Ajekwu)”.

Junior Mia Ajekwu fueled North Texas in the first half with 12 points to give the Mean Green a 40-33 lead at the break.

Down by eight at 46-38 three minutes into the second half, Denver (13-12, 6-7) began their comeback. The Pioneers used an 11-3 run to tie the game at 49-49 with 12:49 left in the game.

The two teams went back and forth for the next five minutes and were even at 57-57 with seven minutes left. That’s when Denver went on an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to extend their lead to 68-59.

The Mean Green rallied one final time, cutting it to a three-point deficit at 72-69 after Natalie Mireles hit a 3-pointer with 3 seconds remaining, but Denver iced the game with two free throws from Jenna Cole.

Erika Bobo recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Ajekwu led North Texas with 17 points.

North Texas closes out the regular season with a two-game road swing starting against the Troy Trojans Thursday.