DENVER Five Pioneers scored in double digits to lead the University of Denver women’s basketball team (3-4) to an 84-42 victory over visiting Air Force (3-6) at Magness Arena on Wednesday night, recording its largest margin of victory for the season.

 

Seniors Nnenna Akotaobi (Thornton, Colo.), Andie Mason (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Sara Bents (Billings, Mont.) each posted season-high point totals with 16, 14 and 12 points, respectively. Both Mason and Akotaobi finished the night perfect from three-point land, shooting 4-of-4 and 2-of-2, respectively.

 

Sophomore guard Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas) posted a career-high seven assists in addition to her 11 points, three rebounds and one block, while junior forward Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points. Robinson also tied her career high with seven rebounds, for the sixth time in her three-seasons at DU.

 

Senior guard Celena Otero (Aurora, Colo.) also had a career night, posting a personal best nine rebounds and tying career marks with five assists and five steals.

 

“Tonight we had our best play of the season in almost every category,” said head coach Erik Johnson. “After a slow first 10 minutes, our transition from offense to defense was phenomenal. I challenged the team to define DU basketball, and we took huge strides in achieving that tonight.”

 

Air Force was led by Raimee Beck’s nine points and Brooke Cultra’s eight points.

 

The Pioneers shot 34-for-70 (48.6 percent) from the field in the game, including sinking 20-of-35 in the second half. The Falcons went 17-for-53 (32.1 percent) in field goals.

 

Denver controlled the opening 10 minutes of the game, led by Akotaobi’s seven points in the opening 4:28, before the Falcons took their only lead of the game at 20-18 with 7:22 to play on a Kathleen Schjodt jumper. The Pioneers responded with an 8-0 run to take a six-point lead with 3:55 remaining in the half.

 

Mason hit back-to-back three pointers in the final 1:33 of the half, powering Denver to a 34-22 halftime lead.

 

DU shot 14-for-35 (40.0 percent) from the field in the first half, while Air Force went 10-for-30 (30.0 percent) in field goals. The Falcons gave up nine turnovers, allowing 13 Denver points. The Pioneers had four turnovers for zero points in the opening 20 minutes.

 

The Pioneers returned from the intermission to build on their lead. A Rice jumper gave DU its largest lead of the game at 40-25 with 17:15 to play. A 5-0 Falcon run brought the visitors within 10, but DU used a Robinson jumper and Mason’s fourth three-pointer of the night to regain the 15-point advantage 45-30 with 14:44 to go.

 

Denver used an 8-0 run followed by a 9-0 run to extend its lead to 29 at 63-34 with 9:08 remaining. The team then concluded the game with an 11-2 run in the final 3:51 en route to its third victory of the season.

 

The Pioneers continue their four-game home stretch against Sun Belt Conference foe Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. in Magness Arena.

 

 

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