The University of Denver will attempt to break the Magness Arena attencence record for basketball in an event called Pack the House on Feb 13.

The men and women’s basketball teams will play against North Texas. The women tip off at 6 p.m., and the men start at 8 p.m.

There will be exciting Sun Belt Conference matchups and prizes. Fans can win one of two Toyota vehicles, lift tickets and other prizes.

The current attendance record of 3,307 was set against Colorado at a women’s game Nov. 19, 1999, the first year Magness Arena was opened.

The women’s team is in a heated end-of-the-season battle for the West Division title of the Sun Belt with a 12-11, 6-3 record.

To win the Sun Belt Conference regular season title, the Pioneers women’s basketball team needs a little luck and some hard work.

The Pioneers dropped to one game behind SBC leading Western Kentucky after losing to them Wednesday night 77-63.

If the women had won that game they could have taken the lead in the SBC and controlled where they were seeded in tournament play.

Wednesday night the Pioneers were led by Sarah Cyran who had 13 points and five rebounds and Tasha Jones and Ashley Atkinsons, who had 13 and 10 points respectively.

The Pioneers kept the game close in the first half, ending that period trailing by only two points 35-33. The second period was a different story, with the Pioneers attempting to prevent Shala Reese, who lead Western Kentucky with 30 points and 13 rebounds from scoring at will.

The single bright spot for the Pioneers was Ashley Atkinson’s school-record-tying 227th career 3-pointer which brought her even with the University of Denver’s career record holder, Michelle Garcia, who graduated last year.

Atkinson became the Pioneers’ 14th 1,000-point scorer this season and leads the team with 10.7 points per game.

Jones has also stepped up to lead the team in conference games with 14.2 points per game.

The men’s basketball team has also improved dramatically surpassing its eight game win total of last season just half way into this year.

The Pioneers were unable to close out their most recent opponent, Western Kentucky, stumbling to an 81-77 loss last Wednesday night.

Led by forward Carvell McAlister’s 17 points, and 13 points each from center Brett Starkey and guard Dusty Wadlington, the Pioneers had a strong, but ultimately disappointing game.

After a promising start to the season the Pioneers have found it difficult to remain consistent on their way to a 12-11 overall record.

The Pioneers have now lost five straight games.

The Pioneers began the game in a promising fashion, leading the game for most of the first eight minutes.

A free-throw by Caleb Halcomb of Western Kentucky put them in the lead for the rest of the first half, which they lead 36-33.

Forced to foul in the final minutes of the second half, the Pioneers could do nothing but watch WK’s David Boyden and Mike Wells sink all eight of their free-throw attempts to shut the door on Denver.

Tickets, are 5 dollars for adults, 2 dollars for Seniors and admit fans to both games. Tickets are available by phone at 303-871-2336 or at the Ritchie Center Box Office.