KANSAS CITY – The University of Denver women's basketball team got a career-high 25 points from sophomore guard Mary Wilson, had three players in double figures and got a second-straight double-double from Makayla Minett, including a 2022-23 NCAA Division I women's basketball game-high 10 blocks in the Pioneers 73-60 win over Kansas City in Denver's Summit League opener on Thursday night at the Swinney Center.
 
Ally Haar chipped in with 16 points and nine assists, one helper shy of her second-career double-double.
 
Denver took advantage of excellent ball movement in Thursday's game, piling up 18 assists on 24 made field goals. Haar's nine assists paced the Pioneers and Emma Smith also added four assists of her own.
 
The Denver defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Thursday's game, forcing 17 KC turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 15 points on the other end of the floor. Mikayla Brandon's four steals led the way individually for the Pioneers.
 
How It Happened
After a two-week layoff and a long bus ride, Denver struggled out of the gate, falling behind 18-9 at the end of the first quarter.
 
KC kept adding to that lead, building a 20-9 advantage before Denver went on a 12-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Minett, to take a 21-20 lead. The Kangaroos fought back to take a 28-26 lead heading into halftime.
 
After intermission, Denver cut its deficit to 41-40 before going on an 11-0 run to grab a 51-41 lead with 1:38 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Kangaroos had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Pioneers still entered the fourth quarter with a 55-48 edge. Denver knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter to score 12 of its 29 total points.
 
Back-to-back Wilson triples opened the fourth-quarter scoring to grow the lead to 61-48 with 9:14 to go in the contest. The Pioneers held onto that lead for the rest of the game for the 73-60 win. Denver got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring eight of its 18 total points.
 
Game Notes

• Denver had 14 days between games due to the postponement of the Pioneers Summit League opener against Omaha, scheduled for December 21.
  • The Pioneers had a 15-day layoff between games last year due to postponements surrounding COVID-19 during the 2021-22 season.
• The Pioneers knocked down double-digit three-pointers (10) for the fourth time in the last five games.
• Denver held the Kangaroos to only 31.9 percent shooting from the field, its second-best defensive field goal percentage this season (New Mexico State – 30.6 – 11/26/22)
• Mary Wilson reached double figures for the second time this season and in her career.
  • Wilson made a career-high seven triples in the contest and finished with a career-high 25 points.
  • Wilson is the second Pioneer to make seven triples in a game this season (Ally Haar 12/6/22 at CSU), and her output ties for the eighth-most in a game in Denver's Division I history.
• Makayla Minett's double-double is her second-straight, her fourth this season and the fourth of her career.
  • Minett finished with a career-high 10 blocks, good for second in Denver's Division I history.
  • The 10 blocks were the most in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game so far this season (through games entering December 29).
  • Minett finished with double digit rebounds for the second-straight game, the seventh time this season and the 13^th time in her career.
• Mikayla Brandon finished in double figures in points for the third-straight game, the sixth time this season and the 17^th time this season.
• Ally Haar finished in double figures for the fourth-straight game, the fifth time this season and the 28^th time in her career.
  • Haar was one assist shy of her second double-double in the last three games. 

UP NEXT: Denver will be back in action on Saturday when the Pioneers travel to Oral Roberts. Opening tip is set for 1 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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This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.