Box Score

DENVER – The LMU women's basketball (5-2) team felt the absence of its two leading scorers, senior Gabby Green (25.0 ppg) and sophomore Chelsey Gipson (15.0 ppg), in Saturday's road game at the University of Denver (6-1). Both players were out due to injuries. The Pioneers knocked down a season-high 15 3-pointers as they defeated the Lions 104-75. LMU was no match for Denver from long range, securing just four threes of their own in the loss.
 
The Pioneers took charge early on, taking a 24-10 lead after the first quarter. They started their 3-point success in the first, netting 4-of-8 threes. They put in two more 3-pointers in the second quarter and edged the Lions 18-16 in the frame to hold a 42-26 edge at the half.

The Lions trimmed the Denver lead to 14 at the 5:21 mark of the third quarter on a drive and layup by senior Andee Velasco, but the Pioneers continued their strong play and held on to a 16-point lead at the end of three, 65-49.

Denver capped off the victory with another seven made threes in the final frame, outscoring the Lions 39-26. Junior Cierra Belvin and sophomore Jasmine Jones came up big for LMU in the second half, but it was not enough to catch the Pioneers.

Jones finished with team highs in points (16), boards (8) and steals (2). Belvin tallied 14 points, including 11 in the second half alone. Redshirt freshman Brittney Reed also scored in double figures, finishing with 11 points to go along with a team-high three steals. Freshman Naomi Yim posted a career-best 10 points and was the final Lion to score in double figures. Bree Alford added seven points and seven rebounds and Andee Velasco poured in seven points with three assists.
 
Entering today's game, LMU was holding its opponents to just 58.8 points per game. Denver's 104 points on the day was by far a season-high by a Lions opponent. The second-highest point total by a LMU opponent was Arizona's 64 on Nov. 13.

The Pioneers forced 22 LMU turnovers, while only tallying 10 of their own. LMU held a 43-41 edge on the boards. The Lions were also held to just 11 assists on the day, while the Pioneers totaled 20.

This was the second time this season that Denver has broken 100-points in scoring this season, as they racked up 117 points in a double OT victory over Lamar on Nov. 23.

Following today's game, LMU returns to California but stays on the road, traveling to CSUN for a Friday night matchup.