BOCA RATON, Fla. Sparked by the bench, the University of Denver women’s basketball team tallied its first road win of the season with a 69-53 win over Florida Atlantic in the de Hoernle Center on the campus of Lynn University.

 

“It was nice to get our first road win,” head coach Pam Tanner said. “I thought our team played a complete game tonight. A key was that we maintained our composure when they shot the ball so well in the first half. We made some nice offensive adjustments that helped us.”

 

Coming off the bench, senior Sara Benham (Muleshoe, Texas) led the Pioneers (7-11, 2-5 SBC) with a season-high 18 points, while sophomore Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) was one of three Pioneers with seven rebounds, matching her career-high.

 

After beginning the second half with a layup by senior Alisha Godette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to put DU up seven, the Owls (4-13, 0-8 SBC) climbed back into the game, getting within two but the Pioneer offense was too much, mounting an 18-4 run, capped by a three-pointer by junior Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.). Senior Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) played in foul trouble most of the second half and recorded eight points in the half.

 

In the first half, the Pioneers found themselves down by five before a three-pointer by Meyer and a jumper by Benham evened the score at 9-9. A 7-2 Denver run pushed the Pioneers’ lead to five points but the Owls kept the pressure on. A three-pointer by FAU’s Mercedes Thompson gave the Owls a one point advantage, but the Pioneers responded and closed out the half on a 9-3 run, including four points by Benham, to take a 32-27 lead into the lockerroom.

 

In addition to Benham, three other Pioneers finished in double figures. Akotaobi added 13, while Meyer and Robinson added 11 and 10, respectively. Godette and junior Sara Bents (Billings, Mont.) joined Robinson with seven rebounds apiece. Benham collected one block in the game, putting her tied for fifth on DU’s all-time blocked shot list with 105.

 

Carla Stubbs led FAU with 20 points.

 

DU’s road trip continues on Sunday, Jan. 27 in Mobile, Ala., against South Alabama at noon in the Mitchell Center.