DENVER  A 12-0 run late in the second half propelled the University of Denver women’s basketball team to a 67-61 victory over visiting Dartmouth Wednesday night in Hamilton Gymnasium.

 

After leading most of the game, the Pioneers found themselves trailing 53-49 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest. A jumper from senior guard Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) cut the lead to 53-51and a pair of free throws from junior forward Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.) tied the game. A three-pointer from junior Celena Otero (Aurora, Colo.) gave the Pioneers a 56-53 lead and DU never trailed again en route to winning its fourth game of the season.

 

Denver (4-5) was led in scoring by Akotaobi, who put up 17 points in the victory. Benham and Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) also reached double figures for DU as Benham had 14 and Meyer added 11.

 

Dartmouth’s Koren Schram led all players with 19 points, who dropped to 1-7 on the season.

 

Sophomore forward Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) tied her career high to lead the Pioneers with seven rebounds.

 

A Meyer steal set up a lay up for Robinson at the 11:40 mark of the first half, giving the Pioneers a 12 point lead, their largest lead of the half, at 23-11.

 

But Dartmouth outscored the Pioneers 14-5 in the final 4:30 as the Pioneers took a 39-36 lead to the locker room at halftime.

 

Both teams shot just over 50 percent from the field in the first half as the Big Green hit 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) and Denver nailed 16-of-31 (51.6 percent).

 

Otero hit a pair of three pointers in the second half to finish with a career high six points. Her bucket at the 6:14 mark put the Pioneers up 63-53 during the decisive 12-0 run and essentially ended any chance at a Dartmouth comeback.

 

The Pioneers begin Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1:00 p.m. against North Texas (5-7, 0-0 SBC) in Magness Arena. The men’s team will take on the Mean Green in the second game of the Denver basketball double header at 4:00 p.m. The games will be broadcast on Pioneer Vision at www.DenverPioneers.com.