DENVER - In its final game of the regular season, the University of Denver women's basketball team (17-12, 12-6 SBC) defeated the University of Louisiana-Lafayette by a score of 76-63 before a crowd of 416 on Saturday afternoon at Magness Arena.

Sophomore Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) led the Pioneer offensive effort for the second-straight game with 24 points, while senior Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.

Led by Murdoch's 15 first-half points and 62.1 percent overall shooting, Denver took a 44-26 lead at the break. The Pioneers shot 5-for-7 from long range in the opening stanza, helping them build the 18-point lead. Denver recorded an assist on each of its 18 field goals made in the first half.

The Pioneers never relinquished their lead in the second half, shooting 11-of-23 from the floor and blocking five second-half shots to maintain the advantage.

The Pioneers used accuracy to their advantage, shooting 55.8 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc, compared to ULL's 36.8 percent shooting and 27.3 percent accuracy from long-range. Denver out-rebounded ULL 40-37, blocked nine shots to the Ragin' Cajuns' three, and led Louisiana-Lafayette in assists 27-14.

Three additional Pioneers finished with double figures in scoring with junior Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas) adding 13 points, freshman Sarah Feeney (Bismarck, N.D.) recording 12 points, and junior Brianna Culberson (Jefferson City, Mo.) chipping in 11 on the afternoon. Feeney also added a career-high eight assists.

With the win, Denver closes out the regular season. The Pioneers will return to action at the Sun Belt Conference tournament, where first round play will begin on Friday, March 6.

Pioneer Notes:

• The Pioneers clinched the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with the victory.
• With her 24 points, Murdoch extends her consecutive games in double figures to 19 games. She has led the Pioneers in scoring in 13 games so far this season. Her 20-plus-point performance marks the seventh time this season that she has finished with such a performance.
• Murdoch also finished the night with six blocks for her ninth consecutive game with one or more blocks.
• Smith finished the night with seven assists for her 15th game with multiple assists. Smith has led the Pioneers in assists in 21 games this season.