DENVER  – The University of Denver women's basketball team had five of the 12 that scored finish in double figures, led by 10 points and 10 assists from graduate student Ally Haar in the Pioneers 104-74 victory over Colorado Christian on Monday night in Hamilton Gymnasium.
 
Freshman Jojo Jones had a season-high 17 points to lead the Pioneers. Mikayla Brandon added 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals, Emma Smith helped out with 14 points and Mikenzie Jones reached double figures for the first time in her collegiate career, chipping in 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
 
Denver out-rebounded Colorado Christian 38-36 in Monday's game, paced by Brandon's eight boards. The Pioneers also grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and scored 13 second chance points.
 
Denver's 17 takeaways turned into 33 points on the other end of the floor. Denver had four different players with multiple steals, finishing with 11 as a team (17 CCU total turnovers), compared to just 11 turnovers on the offensive end.
 
How It Happened
After jumping out to an 8-5 advantage, Denver went on a 6-0 run with 6:05 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Mikenzie Jones, to increase its lead to 14-5. Denver did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 14 of its 20 points close to the basket.
 
Denver built that first quarter lead to 31-24 before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 5:05 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Brandon, to increase its lead to 37-24. The Pioneers proceeded to tack on three points to that lead and enjoyed a 50-34 advantage heading into halftime. Denver was strong from deep in the period, knocking down seven three-point shots to account for 21 of its 30 points.
 
Following intermission, Denver continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 70-49 before going on an 11-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Tsimba Malonga, to expand its lead further to 81-49 with 20 seconds to go in the third.
 
Denver kept widening that lead, expanding it to 87-54 before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Mary Wilson's three, to grow the lead to 93-54 with 6:12 to go in the contest. The Cougars narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Pioneers still cruised the rest of the way for the 104-74 win. Denver got a boost from its bench in the period, scoring 12 of its 23 total points.
 
Game Notes

• The Pioneers 104 points ties for the third-most in a game in Denver's Division I history, and is the second-most in a game that ended in regulation (107 vs. Air Force 12/08/14).
• DU's 37 made field goals tied for the fourth most in a game in Denver's DI history
• The Crimson and Gold's 13 made threes were there most in a game since making 19 in Denver's 87-65 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi in November, 2021.
• Denver's 50-point first half was its first since this match-up a year ago (Dec. 7).
• The Pioneers finished with five players in double figures for the first time since December 10, 2021 at Butler. It was the first time in regulation since the CCU game a year ago.
• Denver had 12 players get in the scoring column on Monday night.
• Freshman forward Shira Hagag, who joined the team last week from Israel, made her collegiate debut in the final minutes Monday.
• The Pioneers shot 55+% (37-67, 55.2%) for the first time since a 104-99 win against South Dakota on January 3, 2019.
• Denver shot over 45% from three (13-27 – 48.1%) for the first time since a 94-82 win over Omaha on February 26, 2021.
• Jojo Jones finished with a season-high 17 points, her fourth game in double figures in her freshman campaign.
• Emma Smith finished in double figures for the eighth game in nine appearances in her collegiate career.
• Ally Haar finished with her first career double-double, scoring 10 and adding 10 assists. It was the fifth double-double for Denver this season.
  • Haar's 10 assists were a career-high
  • Haar's 5+ assist game was her fifth of the season and the eighth of her career.
  • Haar is the first Pioneer since Samantha Romanowski on Feb. 9, 2019 to record 10+ assists in a game that ended in regulation.
  • Haar finished in double figures in scoring for the second-straight game, the third time this season and the 26^th time in her career.
  • Haar's 10 assists ties for the 11^th-most in a single game in Denver's Division I history
• Mikayla Brandon finished in double figures for the fourth time this season and the 15^th time in her career.
• Mikenzie Jones scored in double figures for the first time in her career, knocking down her first five shots of the night.

 
UP NEXT: The University of Denver women's basketball team will wrap-up non-conference play on Thursday when the Pioneers travel to Idaho. Tip is set for 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
 
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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This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.