LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The University of Denver women’s basketball team (12-11, 7-5 SBC) fell 58-53 on the road to the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans (19-4, 11-1 SBC) on Sunday evening at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

 

Sophomore Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas) led the Pioneers with 17 points, while freshman Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) added 12 points and eight rebounds. Junior Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) also posted a steady performance for Denver as she finished with seven points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Celena Otero (Aurora, Colo.) finished the night shooting 50.0 percent from the field (3-of-6) and a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range, while also tallying four assists and two steals.

 

As a team, Denver shot 42.6 percent from the field, and 41.7 percent from long range. From the line, the Pioneers finished shooting 61.5 percent on 8-of-13 free throw. For the game, Denver finished with 32 rebounds, 11 assists, one block and six steals.

 

The Trojans were led by Chastity Reed’s 21 points, while teammate Anshel Cooper added 14 points. Leading the way off the glass was Marian Kursh who finished with 10 boards while also adding eight points.

 

The Pioneers opened the first 20 minutes taking a quick 5-0 lead off a bucket by Robinson and a three from Rice and continued to extend their lead by as much as six points (10-4) with 14:03 remaining. However, the Trojans answered right back, tying the game 10-10 with 10:40 remaining on a lay-up by Anshel Cooper. Eight of the Trojans first 10 points were scored by Reed.

 

After the Trojans took a 13-10 lead, senior Andie Mason (Gilbert, Ariz.) answered back to even the score as she drained her first three of the game. After the lead changed hands once more, the Pioneers took control, closing out the half on a 10-6 run to take a 24-20 lead heading into the locker room.

 

For the half, the Pioneers shot 34.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from long distance. At the line, Denver finished 4-of-5 (80.0 percent), while grabbing 22 rebounds and four steals. Rice led the Pioneers with eight points, while Murdoch grabbed six boards.

 

The Trojans finished shooting 31.0 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three-point land. From the charity stripe, the Trojans finished 1-of-5 (20.0 percent), while grabbing 17 rebounds, two blocks and three steals. Reed led the Trojans with eight points in the opening stanza, while Cooper grabbed four rebounds.

 

It was a different story for the Pioneers in the second half as the Trojans outscored them 38-29. UALR finished the second half shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three point range, while improving at the line to shoot 73.3 percent. The Pioneers shot 52.4 percent from the field and were an even 50.0 percent from both beyond the arc and the charity stripe.

 

The Pioneers continue on the road and head to Boca Raton, Florida, to face the Florida Atlantic Owls on Wednesday at 5 p.m. (MT). Fans can follow the action live via Pioneer Radio as Mitch Hyder will be calling all the excitement on the hardwood.

 

- PIONEERS -