DENVER – The University of Denver women's basketball team got a career-night from senior forward Makayla Minett to lead the Pioneers to a 73-70 win over LMU on Tuesday night inside Hamilton Gymnasium.
The Pioneers (1-2) had three players score in double figures, led by Minett, who secured her first-career double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds. Mikayla Brandon added 13 points and six rebounds and three assists and Emma Smith helped out with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Denver out-rebounded LMU 43-27 in Tuesday's game, led by Minett's 18 boards. The Pioneers also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, including seven from Minett and scored 17 second chance points.
The Denver defense caused its share of mistakes in Tuesday's game, forcing 13 Lions' turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 14 points on the offensive end of the floor.
How It Happened
Denver kept it close in the first quarter, but entered the second frame down 10-7.
LMU kept adding to that lead, building a 31-20 advantage before Denver went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Minett, to narrow its deficit to 31-27. The Pioneers continued to chip away, reducing the Lions lead to 33-30 heading into the break.
Denver came out of halftime rallying and had constructed a 43-41 lead before going on a 6-0 run to expand its lead further to 49-41 with 44 seconds to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Lions had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Pioneers still entered the fourth quarter with a 49-43 edge. Denver took advantage of five LMU turnovers in the quarter, scoring seven points off of takeaways.
DU kept its lead intact before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Minett's jumper, to grow the lead to 54-47 with 6:47 to go in the fourth. The Lions then fought back to even things up at 63-63 and send the game to overtime. Denver took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 14 points in the paint in the fourth.
Denver then took care of business in the extra session, outscoring LMU 10-7 to seize victory by the 73-70 final score. Minett hit two free-throws down the stretch to cushion the one-point lead to three in the final 30 seconds.
Game Notes
» Makayla Minett notched her first career double-double for the Pioneers with 18 points and 18 rebounds.
» Denver had a 43-27 edge on the boards in the win.
» In her second career game (missed Friday vs. Northern Colorado), Emma Smith finished in double figures for her second-straight contest.
» Makayla Minett recorded the first double-double of her career with 18 points and 18 rebounds, both of which were career-highs.
» Minett finished in double figures on the glass for the first time this season and the seventh time of her career. Minett finished in double figures in points for the first time this season and the fifth time in her career.
» Going into the locker room with no points in the first half, Mikayla Brandon had 11 points in the third quarter, good for her second double-figure game of the season and the 13th double-figure game of her collegiate career. Brandon finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
» Ally Haar turned in her second-straight 5+ assist game, her fifth such game of her career.
» Denver has won three of its last four games that have gone to overtime.
» Minett's 18-18 game, was the program's first 18+-18+ game since Madison Nelson scored 21 and pulled down 22 rebounds in an overtime game at Omaha on Feb. 15, 2020.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
