SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The University of Denver women's basketball team dropped to 6-6 on the season after falling to Akron 88-72 on Friday morning at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum.

Senior Madison Nelson led the Pioneers with 16 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in the loss.

Lauren Loven added 24 points along with three steals.

The two teams traded baskets in the opening quarter with the largest lead being just three, twice by Denver. The Pioneers kept up its play, holding a one-point advantage after one quarter, 17-16.

Two Claire Gritt free throws and a Loven jumper put DU up by three in the first minute of the second quarter. After Shaunay Edmonds tied the game for Akron at 23-23 at the 6:50 mark, the Zips never looked back in the half to take a 44-35 advantage to the break.

Akron started quick to open the second half, pushing its lead back into double digits after a Jordyn Dawson layup made it 46-35.

DU responded though, as Loven knocked down a three that was followed by a Nelson steal and Tsimba Malonga layup to force a Zips' timeout and cut the Denver deficit to three, 51-48, a 13-5 Crimson and Gold run. Out of the timeout, Denver continued to put pressure on Akron forcing two misses while Loven drilled her fourth 3 of the game to put the Crimson and Gold ahead 53-51.

The Zips, though, knocked down a late 3-pointer to take the lead at the end of the third, 54-53.

Denver found itself back in front at 55-54 after a layup from Malonga, its final lead of the day. 

But Akron pushed away after a 24-12 run over a seven-minute span, extending its lead to 13. 

The Zips held on the rest of the way to secure the win.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers continue the Puerto Rico Clasico on Saturday at 11:30 am (MT) against Western Michigan.

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