WBB v North Dakota State (31 DEC 16) - Highlights
WBB v North Dakota State (31 DEC 16) - Audio Only
WBB v North Dakota State (31 DEC 16) - Post Game

Box Score | Photo Gallery

DENVER - The University of Denver women's basketball team dropped its second straight Summit League game in another tight race, falling to the Bison of North Dakota State by a final score of 86-80 Saturday afternoon in Magness Arena.

Freshman guard Lauren Loven led all Pioneers with 18 points, adding two assists and one steal while senior guard Jacqlyn Poss had 17 points and two steals.

Sophomore guard Samantha Romanowski scored 17 points in the first half, before sustaining an injury early in the second half.

Junior guard Ciera Morgan had seven points on the afternoon, adding three rebounds and two assists.

Junior forward Jordyn Alt in her first game back from injury was a force on the defensive end, as she had a career-high four blocks.

On the game, Denver was 30-of-67 from the floor for 44.8 percent while NDSU was 29-of-61 for 47.5 percent including shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The Bison out-rebounded the Pioneers, 43-28, including grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Denver took an early 9-5 lead on a three-point play from Poss at the 7:13 mark of the first quarter.

NDSU would go on a run, but with 3:17 to play in the first quarter, Johnson would drive hard to the hole, drawing the foul. She'd make both from the charity stripe and pull Denver within one at 17-16.

From there, the Bison went on a 17-7 run in the final five minutes of the first quarter.

A jumper from Alt with just over one minute to play would bring the game within seven at 25-18.

Poss would hit back-to-back buckets with eight minutes to play in the second quarter, and bring DU back within seven at 31-24.

With seven minutes to go in the half, Romanowski would get fouled on a three-point attempt. She would head to the line and make all three, cutting the NDSU lead to six at 33-27.

Alt hit a turnaround jumper in the lane with just under one minute to go in the first half, cutting the Bison lead to three at 40-37.

The Bison would however take a 42-37 lead into the half.

Morgan would start the second half in style with a steal and a bucket, bringing DU within three just 10 seconds in.

Just one play later, Morgan would cut the Bison lead to one with another layup at 42-41.

From there, NDSU would go on another run 7-0, but a baseline jumper from Poss would break that scoring streak at the 6:30 mark of the third period, bringing the score to 49-43 in favor of the Bison.

With three minutes to play in the third, Poss would find a wide open senior forward Jesse Spittel under the basket, and she would put it in for two, bringing the score to 61-51.

With 9:05 to play in the game, Loven would fake the three drawing her defender off her feet and drive hard to the hole, collecting two bringing the cutting into the Bison lead at 66-56.

At the eight minute mark of the fourth period, Loven would hit one of her clutch three-pointers, while also drawing the foul. She'd make the free-throw and cut the Bison lead back to single digits at 66-59.

Just one play later Loven would hit from deep again, cutting the Bison lead to four at 66-62.

From there NDSU would go on an 8-2 run, extending its lead to 10 with 3:34 to play in the game.

At the 1:58 mark of the final period, NDSU would take its largest lead of the game at 81-66 and the Pioneers would make a run and bring the game within four, but it would not be enough as Denver would fall.

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