DENVER, CO -- The Denver women's basketball team shot 10-for-13 from behind the arc in the second half to take down the North Alabama Lions, 78-70, at home Saturday
The Pioneers (7-6) had five players score in double figures, led by Coryn Watts, who had career-high 19 points. Jordan Jones tacked on 16 points and eight assists and Alaisha Brown chipped in as well with a career-best 13 points.
The Denver offense was impressive from beyond the arc, making 12 threes on 26 attempts, with 10 treys coming in the second half of play. Watts hit five treys for the Pioneers in the contest.
Denver did a great job disrupting North Alabama shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Lily Esparza led the way individually for the Pioneers with one rejection.
How It Happened
After falling behind 5-2, Denver went on a 7-0 run with 5:08 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Watts, to take a 9-5 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Denver did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring six of its nine points close to the basket.
North Alabama rallied to take a 21-16 lead before Denver went on a 6-0 run starting at the 4:17 mark in the second period to take a 22-21 lead. The Lions then came roaring back to take a 33-24 lead heading into halftime.
North Alabama continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 42-30 advantage before Denver went on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Brown, to trim its deficit to 42-37 with 5:32 to go in the third. North Alabama countered and stretched its lead to 54-48 heading into the fourth. Denver knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter to score 12 of its 24 total points.
Denver narrowed its deficit to 58-54 before going on an 11-0 run, finished off by Jones' layup, to seize a 65-58 lead with 6:12 to go in the contest. The Pioneers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 78-70 win. Denver fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down six shots to account for 18 of its 30 points.
Game Notes
» The Pioneers rallied from a six-point 54-48 third quarter deficit to pick up the win.
» Denver rallied from a nine-point 33-24 halftime deficit to pick up the win.
» The Pioneers shot well from three point range, knocking down 12 of 26 long range attempts.
» The Crimson and Gold shot 77% from behind the arc in the second half.
» Denver had a great day defensively, holding North Alabama to 20 percent from three point land on 15 attempts.
» Five Denver players scored 10 or more points.
» The Denver defense forced 14 turnovers.
» The Pioneers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying five blocks as a team.
» Coryn Watts led the Pioneers with a game-high and career-best 19 points.
» Alaisha Brown scored a career-high 13 points.
» Denver got six rebounds from both Emma Smith and Brooke Murrell.
» The Pioneers 54 second-half points are the most since since defeating Oral Roberts, 89-71, on January 15, 2021.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
