Lafayette, La. – Chrissy Givens scored 28 points Monday, leading No. 16 Middle Tennessee to a 76-50 rout of the University of Denver women’s basketball team in a Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinal.
Givens’ two layups and a 3- pointer during a 15-2 run gave the top-seeded Blue Raiders (28-3) a 29-9 lead with just under seven minutes left in the first half. DU trailed 43-17 at halftime.
The Blue Raiders, who have won all 20 games against Sun Belt foes this season, extended their lead to 39 points when Jackie Pickel hit a 3-pointer to make it 65-26 early in the second half.
Nnenna Akotaobi led the Pioneers (20-11) with 11 points.
Denver shot 60.0 percent from the field during the second half but could not overcome the 39-point deficit.
The Pioneers finished with 27 turnovers, which the Blue Raiders converted into 30 points.
“Obviously Middle Tennessee didn’t do anything different than they have all year,” said DU coach Pam Tanner. “They continue to press for 40 minutes and somebody is going to have to break the press, and if you can’t do that then you are going to have a hard time winning.”
DU returns home with its first 20-win season since 2000-01 and awaits a potential WNIT berth.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (28-3)
Holt 6-13 3-3 15, Abney 2-5 0-0 5, Horton 2-6 2-2 6, Orr 1-4 0-0 2, Givens 11-18 4-5 28, Pickel 3-6 0-0 9, Tate 0-1 0-0 0, Barclay 1-5 0-0 2, Brown 4-13 0-0 9, Boyd 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-72 9-10 76.
DENVER (20-11)
Cole 2-5 0-0 5, Godette 2-5 0-1 4, Lowery 2-5 3-4 7, Akotaobi 4-6 0-0 11, Benham 2-7 1-2 5, Givens 2-2 0-0 6, Meyer 1-4 0-1 2, Butler 0-1 0-0 0, Culberson 4-6 1-2 9, Jasperson 0-0 0-0 0, Reini 0-1 0-0 0, Bents 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 19-43 6-12 50.
Halftime – MT 43-17. 3-point goals – MT 7-21 (Pickel 3-6, Givens 2-3, Abney 1-4, Brown 1-5, Barclay 0-3); DU 6-12 (Akotaobi 3-3, Givens 2-2, Cole 1-4, Lowery 0-1, Meyer 0-2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – MT 44 (Holt 11); DU 24 (Culberson 4, Lowery 4). Assists – MT 13 (Givens 5), DU 11 (Lowery 4). Total fouls – MT 15, DU 12. A – N/A.
