DENVER, CO -The University of Denver women's basketball team defeated Texas Southern (69-60) in the first round of the first annual Pioneer Classic Friday at Magness Arena. The Pioneers snapped a four-game losing streak and advanced to the championship game to face Bradley who defeated East Tennessee State (69-64). Led by 23 points and 10 rebounds (second double-double of the season) from senior forward Misa Pavlickova (Prague, Czech Republic - Boulder), the Pioneers evened their record to 4-4 with the win. In all, four Pioneers reached double figure scoring. Ashley Atkinson (Springfield, Mo.) contributed 14, Kellie Carwell (Villa Park, Ill.) added 11 (and eight rebounds) and Nikki Weddle (Denver, Colo.) scored 10 and handed out six assists. Denver had its best shooting night of the season, hitting 52 percent of its shots from the field (25-48) and 85 percent from the free throw line (17-20). Denver built a nine-point lead with just five minutes into the game (13-4), but TSU closed the gap with a 9-1 run capped by a Menomanee Smith jumper at 10:46 (14-13). Denver regained its nine-point margin but allowed TSU to come back once again and went to the locker room with a slim one-point advantage (28-27). In the second half, TSU scored five straight points to start the period to earn a four-point lead, but the Pioneers went on a 13-0 run to break open its third nine-point margin (41-32 at 14:52). The Pioneers led by as many as 16 points (52-36 at 9:30), but could not put the Tigers away. TSU came within six points, but could not get closer as they surrendered a nine-point decision.