KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — Coryn Watts scored 25 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Denver women’s basketball team to a 79-63 victory over Missouri-Kansas City in a Summit League matchup on Wednesday night at Municipal Auditorium.

The Pioneers, who snapped a three-game losing streak, improved to 10-17 overall. The Kangaroos fell to 7-20.

Denver seized control of the game with a dominant second-quarter performance, outscoring Missouri-Kansas City 26-10 to turn a narrow 18-17 deficit after the first period into a commanding 37-28 halftime lead. The surge was fueled by efficient offense and stifling defense, holding the Kangaroos to just four made field goals in the quarter.

Watts, a 5-foot-7 guard from Aurora, Colorado, was the catalyst throughout. She orchestrated the offense and scored from all levels, hitting three 3-pointers and getting to the rim. Her backcourt partner, Jocelyn Medina, added 12 points and six assists, while Laila McLeod provided a significant spark off the bench with 16 points, including four 3-pointers. Brooke Murrell anchored the interior defense with three blocks and contributed 14 points.

Missouri-Kansas City was led by Emani Bennett’s game-high 20 points, while Tierra Trotter added 15 points and six assists. Despite a significant 21-2 advantage in offensive rebounds, the Kangaroos could not overcome poor shooting. They finished the game shooting just 35.8% from the floor and 23.5% from 3-point range.

Denver, by contrast, was remarkably efficient. The Pioneers shot 61.9% from the field and 55% from beyond the arc. They scored 109.8 points per 100 possessions, a stark contrast to the Kangaroos’ 88.1 offensive rating.

The most important part of the game was Denver’s decisive second-quarter run. After a sloppy first quarter that featured 10 combined turnovers, the Pioneers settled in. A 3-pointer by Medina early in the period gave Denver a lead it would not relinquish. Watts then took over, hitting a step-back 3-pointer and converting a driving layup as part of a personal 7-0 run that stretched the lead to nine points. The Pioneers’ ball movement was crisp, leading to open looks, and their defense forced Missouri-Kansas City into contested jumpers and shot-clock violations. By the time McLeod drilled a 3-pointer off a Medina assist just before the halftime buzzer, Denver had built a nine-point cushion and all the momentum.

Missouri-Kansas City made several pushes in the second half, cutting the deficit to seven points on multiple occasions in the third quarter. Each time, Denver had an answer, often from Watts or McLeod. A critical sequence came late in the third when, after a Bennett jumper pulled the Kangaroos within 42-35, Watts responded with a deep 3-pointer just before the quarter ended to push the lead back to 10.

The Kangaroos’ last serious threat came midway through the fourth quarter when a Trotter layup made it 56-49. Denver immediately called a timeout and responded with a 7-0 run, capped by a Watts layup and free throw, to extend the lead to 14 and effectively seal the game.

Denver’s victory avenged a loss to the Kangaroos earlier in the season and provided a bright spot in a challenging campaign. The Pioneers will look to build on the win when they host South Dakota State on Saturday. Missouri-Kansas City will try to regroup at home against Oral Roberts, also on Saturday.