DENVER – The University of Denver women's basketball team opened Summit League play with a 91-82 victory over North Dakota State on Sunday afternoon in Magness Arena. The Pioneers improve to 7-7 on the season and 1-0 in the Summit League.

For the second time this season, the Pioneers had five players in double figures. Senior Madison Nelson led the way with a career-high 31 points along with 12 rebounds for her ninth double-double this season. On the defensive end she was just as much of a force, recording five steals and three blocks.

Lauren Loven and Meghan Boyd each added 13 points, and Claire Gritt and Tsimba Malonga scored 10 points each in the win.

North Dakota State opened the game on a 14-4 run over the first 4:51, forcing a Denver timeout after an Olivia Skibiel layup.

Michelle Gaislerova hit a 3 to open the second quarter, extending the Bison lead to 30-17, their largest lead of the game. Denver closed the half shooting 3-of-4 from the field, including a Sophia Zulich layup at the buzzer to bring DU within six, 48-42, at the half.

Nelson forced a NDSU timeout 3:20 into the third quarter after recording a steal and back-to-back layups to cut the Pioneer deficit to one, 54-53. Denver's defense got a stop out of the timeout that was followed by a Malonga jumper in the paint, giving Denver its first lead of the game at 55-54.

The lead was short-lived as NDSU regained the advantage with an Emily Dietz layup just 21 seconds later. After the teams traded the lead over a 1:15 span late in the third, the Bison took a 68-66 lead to the final quarter.

Loven knocked down a 3 just 10 seconds into the final quarter, putting Denver up 69-68. Over a 2:39 stretch, DU went 4-of-4 from the field that included three-straight Nelson layups and a Gritt 3 to put the Pioneers up 88-79 with 3:23 remaining. The Crimson and Gold never forfeited the lead in the final quarter and held NDSU to 0-of-4 shooting from the field over the final 1:41 to secure the win.

UP NEXT
Denver hosts North Dakota at 7 pm (MT) in Hamilton Gymnasium on Jan. 1.

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