When University of Denver women’s basketball coach Pam Tanner thinks about her leading scorer, sixth-year senior Tyesha Lowery, Tanner has a lot on her mind.
“The first thing you think about is a love of the game and perseverance,” Tanner said of Lowery, who is averaging 12.3 points this season. “She’s had two knee surgeries in college, after one in high school, but her commitment to the University of Denver has never wavered. She was going to finish her career here, and there was never a doubt.”
Even if it took six years, two more than normal and one more than normally allowed.
“We’re so lucky to have her around,” Tanner said. “She’s a consummate professional and another coach on the floor. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Lowery, a 5-foot-6 guard from Arlington, Texas, missed the 2002-03 and 2004-05 seasons with injuries to her left knee. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament twice, leading to the NCAA’s decision to give her a sixth year of eligibility. She suffered the same injury to her right knee before her junior year in high school.
She never considered quitting.
“As long as I can keep walking is as long as I want to keep playing,” Lowery said.
At 23, Lowery is DU’s oldest player and the biggest reason the Pioneers are having their best season since 2000-01, when they made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
DU (18-10) is seeded No. 4 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and plays at home tonight against No. 13 seed Florida Atlantic (6-24).
The Sun Belt’s top three seeds have first-round byes in the conference tournament. Tonight’s winner at Magness Arena advances to play in the Sun Belt quarterfinals Saturday in Lafayette, La.
Lowery was named Tuesday to the all-Sun Belt second team, DU’s only honoree.
“Even with the setbacks, I knew every year I was getting better,” Lowery said. “I knew if I would rehab every year it would come together. I didn’t know it would be like this. I think it’s cool that I’m in this position now.”
DU needs to win the Sun Belt Tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament. But Tanner said her team’s primary goal is to reach 20 victories.
“The magic number for the NIT is for us to get 20 wins,” she said. “We’re right there on the bubble, if you will, for the NIT. The more games we can win in this tournament, the more chance we’ll get into the NIT.”
NIT or not, Tanner is excited about her program. Since reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2001, the Pioneers have finished 16-13, 12-18, 14-15, 6-22 and 15-13.
Among DU’s top 10 scorers this season, only Lowery is scheduled to leave.
“The bulk of our team is returning next year, which bodes well for our future,” she said.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
Florida Atlantic at DU women
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Magness Arena
Records: Florida Atlantic (6-24, 2-16 Sun Belt); Denver (18-10, 12-6)
Radio: denverpioneers.com
Notes: DU is seeded fourth in the SBC Tournament, while Florida Atlantic is No. 13, finishing last in the six-team East Division and last in the conference. The top three seeds in the SBC have byes in the first round. … This will be the teams’ second meeting: DU beat the Owls 76-60 on Jan. 18 at Magness Arena behind 22 points from junior Jenna Cole. … Tonight’s winner plays the winner of the game matching No. 5 Arkansas-Little Rock and No. 12 New Orleans at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lafayette, La. … DU is 10-2 at home, 7-2 in Sun Belt games.
MIKE CHAMBERS
