DENVER Freshman Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) and senior Andie Mason (Gilbert, Ariz.) led the University of Denver women’s basketball team (13-12, 8-6 SBC) with 14 points apiece as it defeated the New Orleans Privateers (12-14, 7-8 SBC) 6052 on Saturday afternoon in Magness Arena.

 

Along with her 14 points, Murdoch finished with five assists, four blocks, nine rebounds and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in 31 minutes of play. Mason led the Pioneers’ three-point attack as she finished 4-of-9 from beyond the arc and a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.

 

Rounding out the double-digit scoring was sophomore Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas) and junior Ashley Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) as both added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Robinson finished with nine rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Rice finished with two assists, two steals and two rebounds.

 

“I think we did a great job of keeping our composure today against a very good UNO team,” said head coach Erik Johnson. “We lost to them earlier this season and our girls used that game as motivation tonight to help us get back on track. It was a big win for our program and a big win for us in conference play.”

 

UNO’s Jada Frazier finished with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the floor and 3-of-7 from long distance, while Candice McGhee finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. As a team, the Privateers shot 40.4 percent from the field and 70.0 percent from the free-throw line.

 

For the game, the Pioneers shot 40.8 percent from the field on 20-of-49, while finishing 77.8 percent from the free-throw line on 14-of-18. UNO held the advantage in points in the paint, 28-22, however Denver was able to outscore the Privateers 19-13 on opponents turnovers. The Privateers out-rebounded the Pioneers, grabbing 35 boards compared to DU’s 30.

 

The Pioneers shot 35.7 percent from the floor in the first half on 10-of-28 shooting and 66.7 percent from the line on 4-of-6. Mason led the Pioneers with eight points, while Frazier led the Privateers with 10 points and two assists.

 

The action was tight in the first half as neither team was able to pull ahead with a significant lead. With the score tied for the fifth time in the first half, at 22 all, the Privateers took a four-point lead with 3:40 remaining on buckets by Ashley Gorsh and McGee. However, the Pioneers answered right back as Robinson added a lay-up with 44 second remaining. Denver tied the score in the last seconds on a fast-break by Murdoch from Rice.

 

Denver grabbed the lead less than two minutes into the second half on a lay-up by Murdoch and did not relinquish control for the remainder of the game. The Pioneers’ largest lead came with 7:34 remaining as a three-pointer by Rice put Denver up by 11, 51-40. UNO was able to pull within four twice during the final five minutes of action, but the Pioneers held onto their cushion, closing out the game with an eight-point lead.

 

Murdoch led the Pioneers in the second half with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Rice added seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and a perfect 1-of-1 from long distance. Frazier added 11 points in the second stanza for the Privateers, while Felder led the way off the glass with seven rebounds.

 

Denver returns to the court on Wednesday, Feb. 18, as the Pioneers take on Louisiana-Lafayette in another SBC match-up. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Magness Arena.

 

- PIONEERS -