Red Lake Nation News - Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

DENVER - Despite trailing by 13 points to Northern Arizona with less than six minutes until halftime, the University of Denver women's basketball team refused to quit and pulled off the comeback, 80-73. The Pioneers improved to 5-4 on the year, while the Lumberjacks fell to 2-4.

Leading the way for DU was Carie Weinman who scored 34 points. It was the most by any Denver women's basketball player since Paige Bradley dropped in 31 points against North Dakota State on Jan. 7, 2016.

Weinman shot 50 percent (11-for-22) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-for-13) from behind the arc. The freshman also had five rebounds and a pair of assists.

Other statistical leaders for the Crimson and Gold include Madison Nelson who grabbed 18 rebounds and Ciera Morgan who totaled four assists. Nelson's 18 boards were the most by any Pioneer since Jesse Spittel had 16 last season against Pepperdine.

Jasmine Jeffcoat was also a bright spot for DU, as the Louisville, Colo. native recorded her first career double-double. . The freshman had a career-high in both points and rebounds, finishing the day with 17 points and 13 boards.

As a team, Denver shot 30.5 percent (25-for-82) from field-goal range and 30.3 percent (10-for-33) from 3-point range. The team also notched 58 total rebounds, forced 15 turnovers and had eight steals.

After quickly finding themselves down 7-0, the Pioneers finally put points on the scoreboard thanks to a bucket from Nelson.

However, the Lumberjack offense continued to score, building a thirteen-point lead within the first four and a half minutes.

Down 15-2, Weinman returned some excitement to Hamilton Gymnasium with five straight points with a 3 and a pair of free throws.

Morgan drained a big three for the Crimson and Gold with two minutes left in the first, cutting the Northern Arizona margin to only seven.

NAU continued to control the score at the end of the first, 28-21.

Into the second, Weinman continued to guide Denver as the freshman had all six of DU's points over the first six minutes. The six points from Weinman started a 12-8 run for the team.

The Pioneers continued to fight in the second, cutting the Lumberjack advantage to only six, 42-36. Leading the way for DU over the first two periods was Weinman who put up 16 points along with a pair of rebounds.

Through the first half, Denver shot 28.1 percent (9-for-32) from the field and 28.6 percent (4-for-14) from behind the arc.

Despite cutting the margin to only four to start the third, NAU quickly responded pushing the lead back up to nine over the first three minutes.

The Lumberjacks pushed their edge to 11, 52-41 with a pair from the free throw line thanks to Khiarica Rasheed.

Jeffcoat responded on the next two Pioneer possessions, earning trips to the foul line and going 3-for-4. Weinman added three more on Denver's next opportunity, as the freshman made her fourth trey of the game.

Another triple from Weinman, followed by a layup from Nelson put DU within striking distance, 55-52 with a minute to play until the fourth.

In the fourth, Weinman continued to score, sinking her sixth 3 and putting the Pioneers within one.

Denver finally tied the contest at 67 with five and a half minutes to play thanks to a 3 from Briana Johnson. Finally, Samantha Romanowski gave the Crimson and Gold the lead on the next possession, scoring off a short jumper.

The Pioneer offense continued to score, building a six-point advantage, 74-68, capped by another Weinman triple.

NAU cut the margin back to two with a minute and a half to play thanks to a two-point jumper from Olivia Lucero.

However, Northern Arizona failed to get any closer, as Nelson secured the win on a steal and a pair of free throws with 15 seconds to play.

DU takes to the East Coast later this week for battles with UMBC on Dec. 7 and American on Dec. 9.