The University of Denver women’s basketball team trounced the Golden Panthers of Florida International University 74-61. over the weekend.
Senior guard, Tyesha Lowery was as hot as Flrodia’s weather with 18 points and four steals. Lowery leads the Sun Belt Conference in steals.
The Pioneers forced the Golden Panthers into 17 turnovers and grabbed five more rebounds giving them the edge in rebounding 21 to 16 over the Golden Panthers in the first half.
The Pioneers pushed their lead to 20 points in the second half, but the Golden Panthers made run and cut that lead to only three points.
With the help of high-scoring Sara Benham, who had 13 points, Brooke Meyer, who scored 11 points, Alisha Godette with 10 points, and Jenna Cole, who also chipped in 10 points, the Pioneers were able to withstand Florida’s run and gain another road win.
“I think we won the first four minutes of the game with our intensity and it set the tempo for the rest of the game,” said Head Coach Pam Tanner.
Tthe win moves the women’s basketball team to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
Earlier in the week, in Tuesday night’s game against North Texas junior guard Brooke Meyer’s favorite number was 11. The number is on her jersey and is also the number of points she scoredagainst the Mean Green. Meyer’s 11 points along with her five rebounds helped the the team defeat the Mean Green in a 51-48 road win.
At the start of the second half, while The Mean Green forced an 11-5 scoring run to tie the game at 37, the Pioneers went scoreless for six minutes.
“We usually come out a little slow in the second half,” said Meyer about the scoreless play. “I think they should take half time out all together,” added Meyer.
DU’s scoring drought was ended with a jump shot by, Lowery. With three minutes left in the game, sophomore Sara Bents pulled down a crucial offensive rebound and put it back up to give DU the lead.
“I knew that we needed a score, I am just happy that the shot went in,” said Bents.
The biggest play of the game was by freshman Brianna Culberson with her two, clutch-free throws made with only 20.7 ticks left in game play.
“I was nervous at first, but when I heard Ty say, ‘It’s just like at home,’ I calmed down and made my shots,” said Culberson.
Benham also had 11 points and nine rebounds and Bents added her eight rebounds and four points to the win.
The Pioneers are back in action this Thursday when they return to Magness Arena to take on Florida Atlantic at 5 p.m. MT.
