WBB v Air Force (11 NOV 16) - Highlights
WBB v Air Force (11 NOV 16) - Full Game
WBB v Air Force (11 NOV 16) - Post Game

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

DENVER - The University of Denver women' s basketball team kicked off the 2016-17 season Friday night with a 65-52 victory over Air Force at Magness Arena.

Sophomore forward Samantha Romanowski led all scorers with 18 points, going 8-of-17 from the floor. Senior guard Jacqlyn Poss had 14 points and a team-high four assists while senior forward Jesse Spittel added nine points.

The Pioneers shot 39 percent (26-of-67) from the floor on the game, compared to Air Force's shooting 29 percent. Denver grabbed 46 rebounds, dished out 12 assists and swiped nine steals, while the Falcons had 39 total rebounds, seven assists and grabbed four steals.

Junior guard Ciera Morgan sliced through the defense with just over six minutes to play in the first quarter to give the Pios an 8-1 lead. At the four minute mark of the first, freshman guard Briana Johnson juked the defense and went in for a beautiful lay-in and her first collegiate points to give Denver a 10-1 lead. Poss hit a monster 3 with just over a minute to play in the first to put DU up 16-9.

Poss and Romanowski executed the give-n-go to perfection with just under eight minutes to play in the half, resulting in two for the Pios and giving them a five point lead at 20-15. Air Force would take the lead before a baseline jumper from Poss would tie the game at 26. Freshman center Leya DePriest grabbed a big offensive rebound and kicked it out to Poss for the triple, giving DU the lead at 29-26 with two minutes to play in the half. The Falcons would take the lead for the last time in the game, but a Spittel lay-in at the buzzer would give the Pioneers a 34-33 advantage going into the locker room.

Denver started the second half on a 14-2 run, highlighted by a steal and layup from Romanowski at the 6:21 mark in the third period before Air Force burned a timeout to stop the Pioneer momentum. Junior forward Jordyn Alt hit a turnaround jumper in the lane at the buzzer to give Denver a 51-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Pioneers would go on another 8-0 run in the fourth, which was capped off by a free throw from Romanowski. Johnson swiped the ball from Air Force and dish it to Romanowski for two to put the game away at 65-51.

Up Next

The Pioneers travel to the University of Northern Colorado on Monday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Season and single-game tickets for Denver women's basketball are on sale HERE.

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