The Denver women’s basketball team overwhelmed Northern Colorado in an 88-59 win on Sunday afternoon in Greeley.
The Pioneers shot a season-high 58.1 percent from the field as they destroyed the Bears in Sunday’s game. Junior Sara Benham scored 17 points, junior Alisha Godette scored 14, senior Tyesha Lowery tallied 12 points, and sophomore Nnenna Akotaobi scored a career-high 19 points and led the team in rebounding with seven.
“When we get intensity going on the floor, we are able to execute our game plan very well, I was able to feed off of that intensity tonight,” said Akotaobi about the team’s efforts.
“Overall, as a team we set the goal that we are the best team in this region, so with that mind set, we are determined to play that way,” added Akotaobi.
Beham scored 15 points in the first half helping Denver to a controlling 46-28 lead at the half. Denver’s smothering defense held UNC to 37.9 percent shooting from the field. With the assistance of Akotaobi’s sound offense, the Pioneers pushed their lead to 33 points in the second half. With Sunday’s win the Pioneers have improved their record to 13-9 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
Despite being in the lead for the first seven minutes of the game, the Pioneers were defeated by Middle Tennessee 82-58 in Tennessee on Wednesday.
The Pioneers started the game with an 8-2 run, but the Blue Raiders countered DU’s run with an 11-2 run to take a six point lead. Although Denver cut Middle Tennessee’s lead in half, the Pioneers coughed up 13 turnovers and the Blue Raiders were able to convert 13 points from the DU turnovers. The Blue Raiders were in control at half time with a commanding 37-23 lead.
Unfortunately, the second half of the game was not much better for the Pioneers due to Middle Tennessee’s defensive press. Middle Tennessee controlled the ball most of the half and held the Pioneers to only 21 shots in the second half.
“It’s always embarrassing to lose, but they were a good group of girls and they are the No. 19 team in the nation. We came out in the first few minutes of the game and went on an 8-2 run; we just need to keep that consistency throughout the entire game. I’d call the loss to Tennessee a learning experience,” said sophomore Andie Mason.
Some bright spots for DU’s team were scoring leaders Alisha Godette and Jenna Cole, who are both juniors. Godette scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Cole, who was the only other Pioneer in double figures scored 10 points. The Pioneers will return to Magness Arena on Thursday February 8th to face Sun Belt Conference opponent Arkansas-Little Rock.
