Box Score

KENT, Wash. - A strong fourth-quarter performance wasn't quite enough to complete the comeback on Thursday, as the University of Denver women's basketball team fell 59-51 to Seattle.

Samantha Romanowski (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.), playing in her home state for the first time as a collegiate athlete, poured in a season-high 20 points for the Pioneers. The freshman once again displayed her long-range ability, knocking down four 3-pointers.

Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) got back to her scoring ways, dropping in a season-high 14 points. Bradley also displayed her all-around game, adding five rebounds and three assists in the loss.

Denver grabbed a season-high 38 rebounds on the night. The Pioneers also racked up a season-high 11 steals on the evening.

The Redhawks were led by Wilma Afunugo, who finished with 13 points.

Ashlyn Lewey chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds for Seattle.

Both teams battled right from the start with the Redhawks taking a 15-12 advantage by the first media timeout. DU was able to get a hot-shooting start from Romanowski, who drilled two early 3-pointers from the top of arc.

Seattle was able to hold off the good shooting by Denver to take a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Pioneers had their shot going in the first 10 minutes, shooting 6-for-10 (60 percent) in the quarter.

A 5-0 mini run to start the second gave the Redhawks their first double-digit lead of the night at 27-16 after Delanie Parry was fouled while making a layup.

Denver worked its way back into the contest late in the second quarter, using a 7-0 run to cut the Seattle lead to single digits at 33-25 after a floater by Romanowski, giving her 12 points in the opening half.

The Redhawks were able to push their lead back to double digits going into halftime, up 36-25.

Outside shooting played a factor in the first half with Seattle - shooting 25.8 percent from deep entering the game - going 5-for-12 (41.7 percent). The Pioneers were able to counter with Romanowski's long-range ability, with the freshman going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Cold shooting plagued both teams in the third, with Seattle able to hold and build its lead to 14 points at 41-27 at the under-five media timeout. Both teams combined to start 3-for-13 in the first six minutes of the second half.

The Redhawks, though, found their stroke in the closing minutes, upping their lead to 15 at the end of the third.

Denver used an 11-2 start in the fourth quarter to claw its way back after Bradley went coast to coast to make it 50-44 Seattle. For Bradley, it was her 10th point of the game.

The Pioneers were able to get within three at 50-47 with just under four minutes remaining after a layup by Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.).

DU never came any closer than that, with Seattle pulling away late after making their free throws to go on and get the win.

Up Next

Denver (1-5) wraps up its five-game road trip at Pepperdine on Saturday. Start time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MT.

- JOIN THE DENVER PIONEER NATION -

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.

Like Denver Pioneers and DU Women's Basketball on Facebook

Follow @DU_Pioneersand @DU_WHoops on Twitter

Follow @duwhoopson Instagram