DENVER The University of Denver women’s basketball team (12-10, 7-4 SBC) suffered its first home loss in conference play as the Pioneers fell to Middle Tennessee (20-4, 12-0 SBC) 77-49 on Wednesday night at Magness Arena.

 

Redshirt sophomore Brianna Culberson (Jefferson City, Mo.) scored 14 points, including 11 points over a 6:07 span in the second half, to lead the Pioneers. Culberson also posted five rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist.

 

Senior Celena Otero (Aurora, Colo.) added 11 points, two assists and one rebound.

 

Twelve Pioneers saw time in the game against the Blue Raiders.

 

Senior Andie Mason (Gilbert, Ariz.) got the Pioneers on the board first with a three-pointer just 22 seconds into the game. Denver led 7-4 and 11-9 in the opening seven minutes.

 

Middle Tennessee broke a 14-14 tie with a 10-0 run over a 2:22 span to take a 10-point lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half.

 

The Blue Raiders then used a 13-3 run from the 6:17 mark to 2:47 on the clock to extend their lead to 19 before junior Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) broke a 1:58 scoreless streak with a layup. The half ended with DU trailing 42-25.

 

The duo of Alysha Clark and Jackie Pickel combined for 27 points for the Blue Raiders in the first half as the visitors shot 17-for-34 (50 percent) from the field. Meanwhile, DU went 11-for-23 (47.7 percent) in field goals and 0-for-4 from the free throw line.

 

The visitors totaled 22 points off 15 Denver turnovers in the first half, while the Pioneers scored two points on five Middle Tennessee turnovers.

 

The teams exchanged baskets through the first three minutes of the half before a 1:59 scoreless stretch. MT than posted a 9-0 run to take a 60-33 lead with 12:46 to play.

 

Culberson scored 11 of DU’s next 15 points to bring the team within 19, 67-48 with 5:18 remaining. However, the Blue Raiders closed the game with a 10-1 scoring run to claim the 77-49 victory.

 

Clark led Middle Tennessee with a double-double at 33 points and 12 rebounds, while Brandi Brown finished with 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals.

 

The Pioneers finished the game without senior forward Sara Bents (Billings, Mont.), who left the game with 15:19 remaining and did not return. Bents went down hard after fouling Clark on a steal.

 

The Pioneers take to the road for a pair of games, beginning with a 3 p.m. game at Arkansas-Little Rock on Sunday, Feb. 8.

 

-PIONEERS-