DENVER Junior forward Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.) led the Pioneers with 20 points as the University of Denver women’s basketball team defeated the visiting Columbia Lions, 70-59, in Magness Arena Friday night.

 

Senior forward Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) and senior guard Alisha Godette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also reached double figures in scoring for Denver. Benham had 15 points while Godette put up 13, including hitting seven-of-eight from the free throw line. The duo each added a team-high eight rebounds.

 

“We shot well for the second consecutive game,” head coach Pam Tanner said. “I would have loved to see better rebounding and we gave up some easy baskets in the second half, but we have over a week to improve our defense.”

 

A trio of Columbia players scored in double-digits while Chelsea Frazier led all players with 12 boards and Danielle Browne had nine assists.

 

The Pioneers (3-4) jumped to a 6-2 led as Akotaobi put up the team’s first six points.

 

Midway through the opening stanza, Denver went on a 6-0 run to take a nine point lead at 27-18. A three-pointer by junior guard Andie Mason (Gilbert, Ariz.) spurred a 10-4 Pioneer run that increased DU’s lead to 37-26.

 

Columbia (2-7) used a good free throw by Frazier to close the half, cutting the Pioneer lead to 10 when the teams headed to the locker rooms.

 

Akotaobi’s 14 first half points led all players while senior guard Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) had four assists through the opening 20. Meyer went on to tie her season-high of six assists on the game.

 

Second half action was all Denver. Despite shooting 38.5% (10-of-26) from the field after hitting 48.3% (14-of-29) in the opening half, DU held off the Lions for its third victory of the season.

 

“We had some good contributions from everyone tonight,” Tanner said. “We had a solid rotation that allowed our younger players to gain some valuable minutes.”

 

Twelve players saw time on the floor for the Pioneers. Freshman guard Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas) had a season-high 10 minutes and two rebounds while also adding four points and one assist.

 

Denver travels to play Bozeman, Mont. for a meeting with Montana State on Saturday, Dec. 15. at 7 p.m.