DU Completes Road Trip with Win over North Dakota State, 78-73 - P5

FARGO, N.D. – The University of Denver women's basketball team had to take it to the wire against North Dakota State, but the Pioneers pulled out the win, 78-73 inside the Scheels Center on Saturday afternoon.

DU improves to 14-12 and 5-6 in Summit League play, while NDSU drops to 8-17 and 1-10 in the Summit.

Samantha Romanowski led the way for the Crimson and Gold, as the Mountlake Terrace, Wash. native chalked up 15 points, shooting 63.6 percent (7-for-11) from the field and 33.3 percent (1-for-3) from downtown.

Two other Pioneers scored in double figures, as Briana Johnson put up 13 points, thanks to shooting 44.4 percent from field-goal range. Claire Gritt added 12, with a 71.4 percent clip (5-for-7) from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from deep.

As a team, DU shot 44.4 percent (28-for-63) from field-goal range and 30.4 percent (7-for-23) from downtown. The squad grabbed 38 boards, forced 18 turnovers and carded 13 assists.

North Dakota State started the game with a 6-4 lead, as the Bison collected four points from Sarah Jacobson. A Johnson layup at the 6-minute mark tied the contest.

The Johnson basket ignited a 7-2 run for Denver, as a 3 from Gritt followed by a two from Grace White gave the Crimson and Gold its first edge of the contest, 13-8 and highlighted the streak.

NDSU was quick to respond, as the home team went on a 9-2 run of its own. However, a trey from Jordyn Alt at the end of the first, gave the senior her first points of the game and the Pioneers the advantage heading into the second.

The second was back and forth between Denver and North Dakota State, as both squads fought for the advantage over the first five minutes.

Finally with some momentum, DU went on an 8-0 streak, scoring back-to-back layups from Jasmine Jeffcoat and Gritt, 31-24.

With less than a minute to play, the Bison trimmed the lead to only three points, but a triple from White returned the margin to six.

On the other end, NDSU connected from behind the arc with a buzzer-beating 3. The bucket kept the team within three at the break, 36-33.

Though she was playing on an injured ankle, Gritt guided DU with a team-high seven points. The freshman was perfect from both the field (3-for-3) and behind the arc (1-for-1).

At the half, the Crimson and Gold combined for 40.5 percent (15-for-37) from field-goal range and 26.7 percent (4-for-15) from 3-point range. The team grabbed 25 rebounds, forced eight turnovers and handed out eight assists.

After the Bison got within one-point to open the half, Denver responded with five points of its own. That wouldn't be enough to hold North Dakota State, who fired back with six points in a row, retaking the advantage, 43-41.

After a Jahla Osborne drive to the hoop reclaimed the edge for the Pioneers, NDSU's Michelle Gaislerova drained a 3, going back up by two.

Back and forth the lead went between both teams, but Gritt's third trey of the game put the Crimson and Gold on top by a single-point.

Into the fourth, Denver still led by one until a Jacobson three at the 8:56 minute mark had the Bison on top, 56-54.

North Dakota State continued to hold the edge by two, as Denver struggled for a stop after tying the contest at multiple moments of the game.

Finally after a Johnson layup and a stop on defense, DU retook the lead with 4:05 to play as White went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe, 64-63.

On the other end, the Bison tied it as Rylee Nudell went 1-for-2 from the line. Quick to respond were the Crimson and Gold, who took a five-point advantage, 69-64 thanks to a Romanowski drive to the hoop and a Johnson 3.

With 1:32 left to play, NDSU was within two points, as Autumn Ogden put-in a layup. Just seconds later Johnson answered with a lay-in of her own, giving her 10 points in the game.

Two points was as close as North Dakota State could get, as the Pioneers shut the door on the Bison from the charity stripe.

Denver returns to the Mile High on Thursday, to battle Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. MT.

Box Score: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/denv/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2017-18/box_score/stats_20180210aaa.pdf