DENVER – Seniors Madison Nelson and Lauren Loven each recorded a 20-point plus performance to lead the University of Denver women's basketball team to a 96-66 win over Cal Poly on Sunday afternoon in Hamilton Gymnasium.

"The first few minutes of the game I thought we came out flat and they kind of punched us in the first couple minutes," said head coach Jim Turgeon. "What we did this time that we haven't done in the past is that we punched hard right back.

"I am especially happy with how we shared the ball. I thought we really shared the ball and executed our stuff. Defensively we have improved so much since last year. I really appreciate our girls' effort."

Loven recorded a game and season-high 24 points that was highlighted with six made threes. The Scottsdale, Arizona native's six made three-pointers were enough to move her to sixth all-time in the Summit League record books with 261 made in her career.

Nelson tallied her third-straight double-double with a season-high 20 points and 11 boards. Redshirt junior Briana Johnson added 14 points.

Denver made a season-high 31 shots from the field and 12 shots from behind the arc, while also dishing out a season-best 23 assists.

After trailing for the first four minutes of action, a Nelson layup at the 5:51 mark gave Denver its first lead, 9-8. The Pioneers went on an 8-0 run over a 2:51 span to go to the media timeout up 12-8. Cal Poly's Sierra Campisano knocked down a free throw with 2:32 to go that ended a 4:25 13-0 Denver run and cut the Mustangs' deficit to eight.

Following a 29-15 lead after the first, the most points the Pioneers have scored in a quarter this season, Denver opened the second on a 13-3 run over the first five minutes and jumped out to a 24-point lead. Cal Poly closed the first half shooting five of six from the field as the Pioneers took a 51-32 lead after the first 20 minutes of play.

Denver kept its foot on the gas, racing back out to a 24-point lead just before the first media timeout of the third quarter. Turgeon's squad extended its lead to 27 with 3:26 remaining in the third and closed the quarter going six of eight from the field.

The Pioneers cruised to a 96-66 win from there.

UP NEXT
Denver hosts Colorado Christian on Nov. 21 at 7:30 pm (MT) in Hamilton Gymnasium.

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