DENVER -- The University of Denver women's basketball team battled in the second half but came up short against the Omaha Mavericks, 65-58, on Wednesday night in Hamilton Gymnasium. 

Coryn Watts led the Pioneers with 25 points, four rebounds and four assists, with her five treys, Watts is now sixth in single-season three pointers with 67 3FGs. Brooke Murrell tacked on 12 points and 8 rebounds and Tori Baker added 14 points and four steals. 

Denver struggled offensively out of the gate and trailed 14-9 after one quarter. Baker opened the scoring at the 7:30 mark of the first on a backdoor cut off an assist from Watts, but both teams endured a scoring drought of more than three minutes midway through the period. Omaha grabbed a 9-8 lead late in the quarter and carried the momentum into the second.

The Pioneers went nearly four minutes without a field goal to start the second quarter as Omaha pushed its advantage to 19-9. Watts snapped the drought with a 3-pointer, but Denver continued to have trouble finding consistent offense. Omaha extended its lead to as many as 15 points and took a 33-16 lead into halftime.

Denver began to find its rhythm in the third. Baker connected from beyond the arc early in the period, and Watts caught fire with three 3-pointers in the quarter. After Omaha built its lead back to 17, Watts' third triple of the frame cut the deficit to 42-28 midway through the quarter.

The Pioneers then turned up the defensive pressure, holding Omaha scoreless for more than six minutes during a 14-0 run that trimmed the deficit to 42-39 heading into the fourth.

Omaha opened the final quarter with a 3-pointer and maintained a narrow lead throughout. Denver pulled within 49-45 with just over five minutes remaining, but back-to-back turnovers stalled the comeback attempt. The Mavericks extended their lead to 57-50 with under two minutes to play and sealed the win at the free-throw line. The Pioneers battled through the final minutes but came up just short, falling 65-58. 

UP NEXT: The Pioneers take on Oral Roberts on Saturday afternoon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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