WBB v Northern Colorado (13 NOV 15) - Highlights
WBB v Northern Colorado (13 NOV 15) - Post Game
WBB v Northern Colorado (13 NOV 15) - Full Game

Photo Gallery Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver women's basketball team dropped its season opener on Friday night to Northern Colorado 60-51 at Magness Arena. The Pioneers fell to 0-1 on the year while the Bears jumped to 1-0.

Jordyn Alt (North Oaks, Minn.) led the way for DU, posting a double-double on opening night, dropping in 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. It was the second time in her collegiate career for Alt that she has posted a double-double.

Freshman Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) made some plays in her collegiate debut, finishing with nine points and two assists, both of which were on some very impressive passes to her teammates for easy looks at the basket.

"We saw our team fight for 40 minutes out there tonight," head coach Kerry Cremeans said about her team's effort. "A key difference in the game was turnovers, missed layups, and free throws. We add those pieces up, and we're in a better position to win the game."

UNC was led by Savannah Smith's 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Katie Longwell added 11 points off the bench for Northern Colorado.

The Bears opened the contest with a quick 5-0 run in the first few minutes, before Denver battled their way back to make it a two-point contest at the under-five media timeout at 9-7. Alt provided a big spark off the bench with some key rebounds and three quick points during the opening stretch.

Samantha Romanowski (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) gave the Pioneers their first lead of the night in dramatic style, dropping in a long 3-pointer from the right wing just before time expired to end the first quarter, putting DU up 15-12 and giving the freshman guard five points off the bench.

"We had some players step up tonight and perform," Cremeans added. Jordyn [Alt] finished with a double-double and she played with that confidence all week long and showed in a big way tonight. We had two freshmen be key contributors and show a lot of toughness. We have high expectations of them moving forward."

UNC worked its way back into the lead going into the under-five media timeout in the second quarter at 21-19. Northern Colorado was able to make a few shots from long range to take the lead, despite some great defense by Denver.

The Bears pulled away with a pair of late 3s to close out the half with a six-point lead at 32-26.

The Pioneers were a force on the glass in the opening 20 minutes, outrebounding UNC 19-11 in the half.

Simental led all DU scorers with seven points on 2-of-4 shooting while also handing out one assist.

For Northern Colorado, Smith led the way with 10 points in the first half, which included two 3s.

The third quarter had both teams maintaining their pose, resulting in a 39-33 advantage for the Bears going into the under-five media at 4:47. Jesse Spittel (Yorba Linda, Calif.) got herself in the scorebook with five quick points, with two baskets coming off great passes by Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.) and Simental into the low block.

Baskets by Kyleigh Hiser and Kianna Williams in the opening moments of the fourth pushed the Northern Colorado lead into double digits at 13.

Instant Impact

The duo of Simental and Romanowski did some really good things in their collegiate debuts. Both were able to knock down some key shots, highlighted by Romanowski drilling a 3 at the end of the first quarter.

Up Next

The Pioneers close out their two-game homestand with a meeting against Weber State on Sunday at Magness Arena. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

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