LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Led by a career-high 26 points from junior Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas), the University of Denver women's basketball (2-3) team topped the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks (0-5) 88-76 in the Consolation game of the LMU Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Tournament, hosted by Loyola Marymount in the Gersten Pavilion.

Murdoch finished the game shooting 81.3 percent from the field on 13-of-16 shooting, grabbed a season-high eight rebounds and tallied two blocks to help the Pioneers to their second win of the season. Also turning in strong performances were seniors Brianna Culberson (Jefferson City, Mo.) and Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas), finishing with 21 and 18 points, respectively.

"I couldn't be more proud of how our team responded from a tough game yesterday, to come out and leave that performance out on the court today," said head coach Erik Johnson. "Our veterans led the way for us today both offensively and defensively. This was a great win for us to get the momentum back as we head on another long road trip to Montana."

Culberson finished shooting 71.4 percent from the field (5-of-7) and 75.0 percent from long distance (3-of-4), while also posting a perfect 8-of-8 showing from the line.

Sophomore Emiko Smith (Los Angles, Calif.) finished with eight points and 12 assists, one shy of matching the record for most assists in a game that she tied last season against Northern Colorado (2/3/10).

Also scoring for Denver were freshmen Maiya Michel (Loma Linda, Calif.) and Quincey Noonan (Broomfield, Colo.) with six and five points, respectively.

The Pioneers seemed to have everything clicking in the opening minutes of the first half, jumping out to a quick 6-2 lead off buckets from Smith, Murdoch and Michel. Despite allowing the Ladyjacks to tie the game 9-9 with 15:39 left to play, the Pioneers went on a 16-8 run that took over five minutes off the clock to take a 25-14 lead.

However, SFA countered with a 15-4 run that lasted 4:52 to tie the game 29-29 with 4:53 remaining on the clock. After tying the game for the fourth time with 3:28 remaining, the Ladyjacks closed out the first half on an 11-5 run to take a 43-38 lead into the locker room.

Murdoch led the Pioneers in the first half with 10 points and 5-of-6 shooting from the field, while the Pioneers as a team shot 59.1 percent on 13-of-22 shooting from the field.

The Pioneers put the pressure on in the second half, opening on a 12-2 run to take a 50-45 lead with 15:57 remaining. Denver allowed SFA to tie the game with 11:34 remaining at 56-56, and then regained a two-point advantage off free throws by Smith. Denver did not relinquish its hold of the advantage for the rest of the game, stretching its lead by as much as 16 points three different times.

For the game, Denver shot an impressive 61.5 percent from the field (32-of-52) and 94.4 percent from the free-throw line (17-of-18), while SFA finished shooting 42.1 percent from the field (24-of-57) and 35.0 percent from long distance (7-of-20).

Denver closes out its five-game road swing with games against Montana State on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7:05 p.m. and Montana on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Both game can be follow via CoverItLive through DenverPioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Murdoch was named to the LMU Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Tournament All-Tournament Team  (Porsha Phillips-Georgia (MVP), Jasmine Hassell-Georgia, Alex Cowling-LMU, Candice Nichols-LMU, Kaetlyn Murdoch-Denver, Antoinette Davis-Stephen F. Austin)
• Smith's 12-assist performance ranks first in the Tournament Record Book for most assists in a game.
• Murdoch's 26-point performancs in the Pioneers win over SFA is tied for seventh in the Tournament Record Book for most points in a game.
• Culberson's perfect 8-of-8 performance from the line ranks tied for second in the Tournament Record Books for best free-throw percentage in a game.
• Smith's 16 total assists in the Pioneers' two games of the tournament ranks tied for second in the Tournament Record Books for most assists.

- PIONEERS -