The home court held little advantage for the University of Denver, which got off to a slow start and lost the battle of the boards in a 72-65 setback to Troy, a first-year member of the Sun Belt Conference.
Troy (8-10, 2-5) started with an 8-0 run, which seemed to put the Pioneers (9-10, 3-5) on their heels. Seniors Venice Adams and Tyesha Lowery were held scoreless in the first half.
Sophomore Brooke Meyer led a DU comeback in the second half, drilling two 3-pointers to bring Denver to within three. Jenna Cole tied the game at 47 with 9:46 remaining, but Troy went on an 11-0 run to put the game away.
The Trojans shot 48.1 percent for the game, led by guard Laura Lee Holman’s 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting.
Meyer led DU with 14 points. Lauren Reini added 10. Troy outrebounded DU 41-25.
UNC 72, Colo.-Colo. Springs 55
Greeley – After leading by two points at halftime, Northern Colorado (10-9) sealed the win with 16-1 and 18-7 runs in the second half. The Bears had 11 3- pointers and forced 23 turnovers.
Junior guard Jena Fosdick topped UNC with 17 points. Heather Barbour added 12.
Jennine Sauter had 19 points and 18 rebounds for UCCS (8-10). Crystal Armendarez added 15.
CSU-Pueblo 63, N.M. Highlands 60
Pueblo – Mary Rehfeld made a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to give the Thunderwolves (10-8, 5-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) the win. Rehfeld finished with 17 points. Danielle Murphy led Highlands (6-9, 3-7) with 18.
Fort Hays State 67, Colo. Christian 41
Lakewood – Fort Hays State (16-3, 10-1 RMAC) held the Cougars (4-17, 1-10) to less than 21 percent shooting in the second half and cruised to the win.
Western State 59, Adams State 56
Gunnison – Sophomore Audra Lawson was almost perfect in leading the Mountaineers (6-12, 4-7 RMAC) to the home win over the Grizzlies (2-17, 1-10). Lawson was 8-of-8 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line in compiling 22 points.
