The University of Denver women’s basketball team (1-1) defeated Lindenwood University (0-2) at Hamilton Gymnasium on Nov. 4, in their first home game of the season.

The Crimson and Gold returned home looking to bounce back after a recent loss to Air Force(2-0). Denver came out ready to compete, taking an early 16-15 lead after the first quarter.

Denver continued to build momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Lindenwood 21-15. They headed into halftime with a seven-point lead. 

Sophomore guard Tori Baker led the team offensively, putting together a career-high performance. Baker scored 23 points, surpassing her previous career high of 18 points. She finished 7-of-11 from the field, including three three-pointers, and went 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. 

When asked about this career-high performance, Baker said, “It felt good. But, I mean the team  was getting me the ball, the team was in the right place at the right time, and shoutout to them. So they did awesome.”

The Crimson and Gold strengthened their defense in the third quarter, holding Lindenwood to just 10 points. Denver also continued to find scoring opportunities while limiting the Lions’ ability to close the gap.

Denver entered the fourth quarter, 52-40 with control of the game and continued to hold Lindenwood back. The team also secured important rebounds throughout the game, creating additional scoring opportunities. 

The Crimson and Gold continued to build their lead, reaching a 19-point advantage in the fourth quarter. Denver maintained their momentum in the final minutes, securing a 66-52 win and the first home victory of the season.

“It was a whole team effort. I think we were doing very well defensively, getting stops, getting rebounds, which ultimately led to offense. So I think just honing in on joining our best defensively, being aggressive, and all that kind of stuff, and I think it will ultimately help us again,” Baker said.

Senior guard Laia Monclova played a major role in this win, finishing with 16 points and a game-high of 11 rebounds. 

Senior forward Brooke Murrell added seven points and eight rebounds to help Denver maintain their advantage.  

“It was so much fun to play. Momentum shifts, basketball’s a game of runs. So I think just whenever we got momentum shifts, the energy is huge. I mean it gets you going, it’s momentum, so it’s awesome,” said Baker.

Denver is set to take on Weber State in Ogden, Utah, on Nov. 7.