Box Score Dec. 6, 2016 WBB v Pepperdine (6 DEC 16) - Highlights
WBB v Pepperdine (6 DEC 16) - Full Game
WBB v Pepperdine (6 DEC 16) - Post Game
Box Score | Photo Gallery
DENVER, Colo. - Senior forward Jesse Spittel recorded the first double-double on the 2016-17 season and set career-highs in both points and rebounds leading the Pioneers to a 75-67 victory over the Waves of Pepperdine Tuesday inside Magness Arena. Kids from area schools took in the game at Magness Arena for the second annual Hoops and Education Day.
Spittel led all scorers, finishing with 20 points and 16 rebounds while freshman guard Lauren Loven also recorded a career-high in points with 18. Freshman guard Briana Johnson came out strong for the Pioneers, scoring 13 points, recording four steals and three assists on the afternoon. As a team, Denver was 44.1 percent from the floor on 26-of-59 shooting while the Waves were 39.0 percent (23-of-59) on the day.
The Crimson and Gold grabbed 42 rebounds, out-rebounding Pepperdine by 11.
Denver also had a huge day from its bench, as it scored 24 points compared to 15 from Pepperdine's bench.
The game would remain scoreless until the 6:40 mark of the first quarter when Pepperdine would strike first, quickly followed by a layup from Johnson. Just a few seconds later, Johnson would collect the hoop and the harm with 5:30 to play in the first. She would make the free-throw and give the Pioneers a one point lead at 5-4.
Loven would connect from way downtown to end the first period and give the Pioneers a two-point lead going into the second quarter at 13-11.
Johnson continued to come in clutch for Denver, as she drove hard to the hoop again at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter and gave the Pioneers a nine-point lead at 20-11.
Denver would keep momentum on its side, as sophomore forward Samantha Romanowski would lay it in for two, giving the Pioneers a 26-13 lead. The very next play senior guard Jacqlyn Poss would take a charge, giving Denver the ball back with 5:30 to play in the half.Freshman guard Haley Simental would hit two free-throws with 12.4 seconds to play in the half and extend the DU lead to 12 but a foul on the other end would put Pepperdine at the line. PU converted on both free-throws and Denver's lead would be 10 going into the half at 30-20. Starting the third period strong for the Pioneers was Romanowski as she hit a monster three with 5:14 to play in the third period and extended the Pioneers' lead back to double digits at 39-28.
Pepperdine would continue to chip away at the Denver lead and bring the spread to just seven with 1:30 to play in the period before a deep three from Loven would take the lead back to 10.
Loven would collect two more of her career-high 18 points with three minutes to play in the game and extend the Denver lead to 68-54.
Pepperdine would battle back and cut the Pioneer lead to seven with 20.6 seconds to play, but one from the charity stripe from Romanowski would seal the victory for the Pioneers at 75-67.
The Pioneers hit the road again this weekend with matches at Utah Valley on Friday and Idaho State on Sunday. The game on Friday will be played at 7 p.m. MT in Orem, Utah.
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