DENVER The University of Denver women’s basketball team ended its four-game losing streak by hitting 14 three-pointers in a 101-75 win over Utah Valley University on Tuesday evening in Hamilton Gymnasium.  The 101 points set a new DU Division I scoring record, surpassing the old record set in a 100-63 win over Texas-Pan American on Feb. 27, 1999.

 

Denver (5-9) hit 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from behind three-point arc, the second most made threes in a game in DU history. Senior Brooke Meyer (Denver, Colo.) was 4-of-4 and junior Celena Otero (Aurora, Colo.) was 3-of-3 from three-point range. Denver hit its first six threes of the first half and was 4-of-5 in the second half.

 

Defensively Denver forced UVU (13-5) into 21 turnovers.

 

“It was the best team defense we have played all year,” head coach Pam Tanner said. “Our defense led to some easy transition baskets which gave us a high shooting percentage, and the offensive momentum that we needed. Hopefully this win will jump start us into a successful remainder of our SBC season.”

 

DU got out to 20-7 lead in the first half, thanks in part to a perfect 8-of-8 from the field. Denver’s shooting cooled off a bit and Utah Valley went on a 10-0 run to pull within five. Sparked by two three-pointers by junior Andie Mason (Gilbert, Ariz.), the Pioneers went on an 11-0 run to pull out to a 16 point lead. Denver kept the pressure on and led by as many as 25 points in the half and went into the lockerroom up 55-32 at intermission. It was most points in a half by the Pioneers since 54 in the 1999 UTPA game.

 

The Pioneers’ intensity continued in the second half, as DU pushed its lead to 30 points. The Wolverines would get within 23 points in the second half but Denver would win the game by its largest margin of victory this season, 26 points.

 

It was the first time in Utah Valley’s school history that it has given up 100 points in game. UVU’s Robyn Fairbanks led all scorers with 27 points

 

Denver had five players in double figures. Senior Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.) led the way with 19 points. Meyer and Otero added 16 and 15, respectively. Mason contributed 14 points and junior Sara Bents (Billings, Mont.) scored 10. Off the bench, sophomore Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) led all players with six rebounds.

 

Denver returns to Sun Belt Conference play on Thursday, Jan. 10 at New Orleans in the Health Performance Center in New Orleans, La., at 6 p.m. MT.