DENVER - Sophomore Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) and junior Brianna Culberson (Jefferson City, Mo.) led the Pioneers with 22 points apiece and freshman Emiko Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) tied a DU record for most assists in a game with 13, but it was not enough as the University of Denver women's basketball team (13-9) fell 74-72 to the visiting Northern Colorado Bears (10-12) on Wednesday night in Magness Arena.

Four Pioneers turned in double figures as freshman Sarah Feeney (Bismarck, N.D.) finished with a career-high 14 points off the bench and senior Ashly Robinson (Bloomington, Minn.) added 10 points to go along with Murdoch's and Culberson's 20+ point performances.

Smith's double-digit assist-performance matches the DU record for most assists in a game that was previously set by Kathy Slattery against Mesa State on Jan. 17, 1981.

Coming out of the locker room, the Pioneers had a 36-31 advantage over the Bears. However, UNC used a 25-7 run that spanned almost 10 minutes to take its largest lead of the game at 56-43.

Despite offensive pushes from the Pioneers that brought them within six points, the Bears stretched their lead to 10 points twice as the minutes began to tick away. However, with 2:24 left on the clock, the Pioneers attempted their final push, using an 11-2 run that took 2:18 off the clock, to tie the game at 72-72.

With .06 seconds on the clock, the Bears took the ball up the court for the final time and used a Whitley Cox jumper to steal the 74-72 victory and hand the Pioneers their ninth loss of the season. Cox finished the night with a career-high 32 points and seven rebounds.

UNC's Kaisha Brown finished with 16 points and Courtney Stoermer added 11 points to help the Bears to their 10th win of the season and remain undefeated against the Front Range Opponents.

Denver remains at home this weekend, welcoming the Florida Atlantic Owls to Magness Arena for a 1:30 p.m. game on Saturday, Feb. 6. Fans can follow the game live on Pioneer Vision and Live Stats at www.DenverPioneers.com.

Pioneer Notes:

• With her 22 points for the game, Murdoch extended her consecutive games with double figures to 12. This is Murdoch's fourth 20+ point performance of the season.
• Culberson's 22 points for the night marks the 21st game this season that she has finished in double figures and was just one shy of tying her career-high of 23 points that she set against South Alabama on Jan. 23, 2010. This is Culberson's second 20+ point game of the season.
• Smith's double-digit assist-performance matches the DU record for most assists in a game that was previously set by Kathy Slattery against Mesa State on Jan. 17, 1981.
• Feeney's 14 points surpasses her previous high of 11 points that she set against San Jose State on Dec. 6, 2009.
• Denver is now 2-2 against Front Range opponents this season (wins against CSU and Air Force, losses to CU and UNC)
• Denver held the advantage in rebounds (30-29), assists (18-14) and steals (8-6).

 

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