DENVER Junior Sara Bents (Billings, Mont.) recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds as the University of Denver women’s basketball team won its first Sun Belt Conference game of the season against Arkansas State, 57-46, on Thursday evening in Magness Arena. 

 

“I thought we played together for 40 minutes tonight,” head coach Pam Tanner said. “We maintained the defensive intensity we had on Sunday and our offensive execution was the best it’s been all year.”

 

Bents was one of three Pioneers (6-11, 1-5 SBC) in double-figures as seniors Alisha Godette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) added 16 and 11 points, respectively.

 

Denver led by as many 14 points in the first half after a 24-7 run, as Bents and Meyer scored six points apiece. Denver had nine points off the bench and led 32-21 at half. DU outscored ASU (10-9, 5-3 SBC) 16-to-2 in the paint before the break and converted 13 points off Lady Indian turnovers.

 

The Pioneers defensive continued to hold Arkansas State in the second half, as Denver opened the half with a 7-3 run that increased DU’s lead to 17. The Pioneers were 11-for-13 from the free throw line in the last 8:20, fueled by Godette, who went 7-of-8 from the line and added a field goal for nine points during the span. Arkansas State got within nine in the game, but the Pioneers kept the pressure on for the win.

 

Ebonie Jefferson was the only ASU in double digits with 12 points.

 

Denver enjoys a week off before heading to Boca Raton, Fla., to play Florida Atlantic at Lynn University on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m. MT.