BROOKINGS – The University of Denver women's basketball team fell to South Dakota State 79-52 on Thursday night in Frost Arena.
Inside the Box Score:
Uju Ezeudu moved into 12
th in Denver's Division I history in points, passing 2021 graduate
Claire Gritt on Thursday. Ezeudu finished the evening with 24 points and nine rebounds.
Indeya Sanders was Denver's next highest scorer with seven to go with three assists and three rebounds.
First Quarter:
South Dakota State raced out to a 8-0 lead in the first 2:38 forcing a Denver timeout in the early stages of the first quarter. The Jackrabbits ran the lead to 14-0 on the other side of the media timeout, connecting on their first six shots in the contest.
SDSU took a 28-8 lead into the second quarter, led by 14 points from Myah Selland. SDSU shot 12-of-16 in the first quarter while holding the Pioneers to 2-of-13. Ezeudu led the Pioneers with five points and four rebounds, as the nation's leading free-throw shooter made three of her game-high 11 free-throws in the first 10 minutes.
Second Quarter:
Ezeudu scored Denver's first nine points of the second quarter to bring her total to 14 in the first 13 minutes of the game to cut the lead to 16.
Makayla Minett added five first half points for the Pios, but the Jackrabbits took a 47-21 lead into the intermission on their home floor.
Third Quarter:
SDSU got the first six points of the third quarter to stretch the lead to 32, but a Sanders triple halted the Jackrabbits run to cut it back to 29 at the first of two media timeouts of the third quarter.
The Jacks went on an 12-0 run in a 4:53 span to pad their lead to 41. Selland stretched out her game-high point total to 23 points, while Ezeudu scored six of Denver's nine third-quarter points to move her point total to 20 heading into the final 10 minutes with the Jacks ahead 67-30.
Fourth Quarter:
Denver used a 7-0 run in a 2:42 span capped off by an
Anna Jackson to start a 22-12 final quarter for the Pioneers. The Crimson and Gold ended the game on a 5-0 run to trim the final score margin to 27.
Notes:
- Uju Ezeudu finished in double figures for the ninth-straight game, the 23rd time this season and the 57th time in her career.
- Ezeudu passed Claire Gritt (2017-21) to move into 12th on Denver's Division I scoring chart.
- Ezeudu finished with 20+ points for the eighth time this season and the 16th time in her career.
What's Next:
Denver will close out its 2021-22 road schedule on Saturday at South Dakota. Tip is set for 12 p.m. MT.
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