DENVER, CO --Emma Smith and Jordan Jones combined to score 36 total points, but the Pioneers fell to the Saint Mary's (CA) Gaels 61-56 at home Thursday.
Smith led the Pioneers (3-8) with 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Jones tacked on 12 points and Lauren With chipped in as well with eight points and eight rebounds.
Angelina Robles pulled down three offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Denver, grabbing 10 boards and turning them into seven second chance points.
Denver forced 14 Saint Mary's (CA) turnovers while committing 10 themselves in Thursday's game. The Pioneers turned those takeaways into 12 points on the other end of the floor. Smith's five steals led the way for Denver.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 5-2 advantage, Denver went on a 5-0 run with 3:19 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Jones, to increase its lead to 10-2. The Pioneers then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 16-8 advantage. Denver took advantage of six offensive rebounds to score five second chance points out of 16 total in the first period.
Saint Mary's (CA) fought back to tie the game at 27-27 before Denver went on a 5-0 run starting at the 2:47 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from With, to take a 32-27 lead. The Gaels cut into that lead, but the Pioneers took a narrow 32-31 advantage heading into halftime.
Denver then lost its advantage in the third quarter and trailed the Gaels 50-45 entering the fourth. Denver knocked down two three-pointers in the quarter to score six of its 13 total points.
Denver could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 61-56. Denver took advantage of five Saint Mary's (CA) turnovers in the quarter, scoring seven points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» The Pioneers put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 80 percent of made baskets.
» Emma Smith, Jordan Jones, and Lauren With combined to account for 79 percent of the Pioneers points.
» The Denver defense forced 14 turnovers.
» Denver cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» Emma Smith led the Pioneers with a game-high 24 points.
» Denver got a game-high eight rebounds from Lauren With.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
