DENVER – The University of Denver women's basketball team used a 19-8 third quarter to flip the script on New Mexico State on its way back in the win column with a 60-51 victory on Saturday afternoon in the third game of the Denver Classic inside Hamilton Gymnasium.
Emma Smith led the Pioneers (2-4) with a season-high 18 points, four rebounds and two assists. Makayla Minett chipped in eight points and added 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Jojo Jones scored nine points, while pulling down six rebounds, dishing out four assists and adding a blocked shot. Mikayla Brandon nearly had her second double-double of the season, scoring eight points and pulling down nine boards.
Denver disrupted New Mexico State shots in the contest, coming away with a season-high six blocks. Minett's three rejections led the way individually for the Pioneers.
How It Happened
Denver struggled out of the gate, falling behind 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, shooting 2-for-10 in the opening period.
The Pioneers fought back in the second period, narrowing the deficit to 27-22 by the time halftime rolled around. Smith had 11 of Denver's 15 points in the frame, including three triples to kick-start the Pioneers offense.
After intermission, Denver cut its deficit to 32-30 before going on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Cheyenne Forney out of the Denver press break, to grab a 39-32 lead with 1:42 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Aggies had cut into that lead, but the Pioneers still entered the fourth quarter with a 41-35 edge thanks to the first basket of the career of Angelina Robles at the third-quarter horn.. Denver took advantage of seven New Mexico State turnovers in the quarter, scoring nine points off of takeaways.
Denver kept widening that lead, expanding it to 46-37 before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Minett's layup, to grow the lead to 51-37 with 6:39 to go in the contest.
2022 Denver Classic All-Tournament Team
#14 N'Denasija Collins – Houston Christian – MVP
#25 Abbey Sutherland – Houston Christian
#21 Kiley Capstraw - Yale
#0 Emma Smith – Denver
#14 Ashlee Strawbridge – New Mexico State
Game Notes
- Emma Smith finished in double figures for the fifth-consecutive contest to start her collegiate career, scoring 11 in the second quarter en-route to an 18-point afternoon.
- Smith is the first player since Meghan Boyd in 2020-21 to score in double figures in her first five games of a season. Boyd scored in double figures in eight-straight games that season.
- Smith is the first freshman since Uju Ezeudu in 2019-20 to score in double figures in her first five career games.
- Denver has not had a freshman score in double figures in her first six collegiate games since at least the 2000-01 season.
- Makayla Minett finished in double-digit rebounds for the fourth-consecutive game and the 10th time in her career.
- Point guard Ally Haar drew eight Aggies fouls in the contest and led all players with a +12 rating.
- Denver tied a season-high with 18 made free-throws, shooting 18-of-23 from the stripe in the contest.
- The Pioneers held the Aggies to only 30.6 percent shooting from the field.
- The Pioneers put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 72 percent of made baskets.
- Denver got a team-high 11 rebounds from Makayla Minett.
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UP NEXT: The University of Denver women's basketball team will hit the road for the second time in the 2022-23 season when the Pioneers travel to Wichita State on Wednesday. Tip on ESPN+ is set for 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT.
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for the 2022-23 season are available now, and can be
purchased here. Season tickets start at just $59.
LONG BALL ELITE: Back for a second season, the Denver women's basketball program is running its Long Ball Elite fundraiser in 2022-23. Fans in a position to donate, consider pledging a dollar amount per 3-pointer made by the DU Pioneers this season.
Join the Long Ball Elite campaign today.
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