With an 18-point lead to start the second half, Denver (2-2) did not relent, breaking the game wide open with a 9-2 run in the five minutes of the second period.

Alisha Godette led Denver with a double-double, 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Tyesha Lowery added 12 points.

Along with her 10 points, Boyer also led Sacramento State (1-6) with five rebounds and freshman Erika Edwards was the only Hornet to knock down a three-pointer in the game. The Hornets end the tournament 0-3 with losses to No. 2 North Carolina and No. 19 UCLA and are currently on a six-game losing streak.

Sacramento State shot just 20.0 percent from the floor compared to Denver’s 24-of-68

(35.3 percent) performance. The Hornets were also outrebounded 56-33.

The Pioneers scored 34 points in the paint and 28 points off of the Hornets’ 24 turnovers, while Sacramento State forced Denver to turn the ball over 17 times, but could not capitalize.

Denver began the first half with an 8-3 lead despite three Stephanie Cherry steals in the first four minutes of the game.

Sacramento State was careless with the basketball early, allowing Denver to score 10 points off seven turnovers during the first 10 minutes of the game.

The Pioneers reached their first double-digit lead, 19-9, at the 8:30 mark after Brianna Culberson drained a three-pointer from the wing. Denver continued to build its lead with another long-distance make from Megan Givens on the following possession.

Denver held the Hornets to 13 first-half points, while the Pioneers scored 18 of their 31 points in the first 20 minutes off Sacramento State’s 15 turnovers.

The Hornets also went without a three-pointer in the first period despite 11 attempts, while Denver drained three treys and shot 40.0 percent from the floor, compared to Sacramento State’s .208 field goal percentage.

The Hornets return to Sacramento after playing their last six games on the road. Sacramento State will take an 11-day layoff before hosting Nevada at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8 at the Hornets Nest.