BOX SCORE

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The University of Denver women's basketball team put on a clinic defensively in the fourth quarter on Monday night, holding Milwaukee scoreless for the first 6:22 on the way to a 56-49 victory.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Pioneers, who now return home for a four-game homestand to close out 2015.

Junior Jesse Spittel (Yorba Linda, Calif.) racked up her first double-double of the year, scoring 11 points while grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds in the victory. Spittel also blocked two shots in 30 minutes.

Maya Rodgers (Meridian, Idaho) scored a season-high 13 points off the bench, playing a pivotal role in the first half on the offensive end when Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) had to sit due to foul trouble.

The defense was the key to the game for DU, holding the Panthers to 25.8 percent shooting (16-for-62) on their own home court for the game, its best effort against an opponent this season.

Despite some very good ball movement early, Denver struggled in the first minutes of the game with its shot, trailing 9-5 at the 4:39 mark in the first quarter. Alexis Lindstrom put in five quick points within five minutes of the game for Milwaukee.

The Pioneers, though, responded coming out of the media timeout, going on a 10-6 run to tie things up at 15-15 at the end of the first. The combination of Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.) and Spittel powered DU in the first 10 minutes, scoring 10 of its 15 points.

Rodgers erupted at the start of the second, scoring six of the first eight points for Denver, helping guide it to a 23-22 lead midway through the quarter. The freshman wasn't done yet before halftime, drilling a 3 at the 2:05 mark to give the Pioneers their biggest lead of the half at 30-22, upping her total to 11 on the evening.

DU was able to hold off the Panthers the rest of the quarter to take a 30-26 lead at the break, making it the third time this year it has held the lead after 20 minutes of play.

Rodgers helped balance the Denver scoring on offense in the first two quarters, who were without Bradley the majority of the half due to two quick fouls the senior picked up early.

The Pioneers really competed with Milwaukee on the glass, beating the Panthers 17-16 on the boards in the opening half, which allowed for DU to eliminate second-chance opportunities at the rim.

Denver came racing out of the gates in the third, using an 8-4 run to push its lead back to eight after Bradley finally got her first basket of the game on a layup in transition to make it 38-30 with just under five minutes left in the quarter.

The Pioneers were able to withstand a late push by Milwaukee to take a four-point lead into the fourth quarter.

DU then really dialed up the defensive pressure to open the fourth, holding the Panthers scoreless for the six minutes while upping its lead back to nine after baskets by Spittel and Bradley and a free throw from Jordyn Alt (North Oaks, Minn).

A furious 9-2 run in a 2:22 span got Milwaukee back to within two points late. The big run was capped off by a layup from Emma Roenneburg.

Denver answered when it mattered most though, getting back to its defensive dominance it had displayed to start the quarter and holding the Panthers scoreless for the final 93 seconds while it went to the line and made clutch free throw after clutch free throw to seal the win.

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts…
The Pioneers' defense was on full display tonight, especially in the fourth quarter. Everyone for DU was all over the floor and matched the intensity and effort a big-and-physical Milwaukee team brought late in the game. Denver was relentless and battled for position on rebounds and caused all kinds problems for the Panthers with its defensive pressure.

Up Next
The Pioneers (2-8) head home to play host to UIC Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT at Magness Arena.

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