DENVER - University of Denver junior forward Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) scored a game-high 24 points and finished with eight rebounds, but it was not enough as the Pioneers (11-7, 3-2 SBC) fell 71-63 to Florida International (7-12, 2-3 SBC) Saturday afternoon at Magness Arena.

"When we needed big shots we were not able to get them," said head coach Erik Johnson. "As we struggled to get baskets they just kept making big shots from the perimeter late in the game."

Denver shot 43.6 percent from the field and were 6-of-20 on their three-point attempts compared to the Panthers who were 9-of-17 from beyond the arc and shot 44.0 percent from the floor.

Senior guard Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas) scored 19 points and went 4-of-8 (50.0 percent) from three-point range. Senior forward Brianna Culberson (Jefferson City, Mo.) added 16 points and eight rebounds while sophomore guard Emiko Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) had eight assists.

Bench play was a huge factor as FIU non-starters contributed 23 compared to Denver's zero.

Denver started slow and trailed by as many as seven with 7:07 to play in the first half. However, Culberson chipped in two of her 10 first-half points at 6:04 to spark a 10-0 Pioneer run that lasted nearly three minutes and put Denver back on top with 4:35 to go in the half. The Cougars capitalized on the Pioneer's 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) free throw shooting and retook the lead late in the half sending Denver into intermission trailing 32-31.

Rice drained a three-pointer at 12:16 in the second half and Culberson followed with another three to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the game at 48-44. However, FIU regained the lead shortly thereafter and lead by as many at 12 twice in the final minute. The Pioneers went nearly eight minutes without a score late in the half and did not shoot a free throw in the final 20 minutes compared to the Panthers who were 9-of-17 (71.4 percent) from the line in the second half.

Jerica Coley and Rakia Rodgers led FIU with 23 points apiece while Michelle Gonzalez chipped in 18 points.

There were 18 lead changes and eight ties in the game.

The Pioneers host Arkansas State Wednesday, Jan. 19 at Magness Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT. Fans can follow the game through PioneerVision, LiveStats and CoverItLive, all available through www.DenverPioneers.com.

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