Box Score DENVER - University of Denver redshirt-junior Morgan Shell (Marble Falls, Texas) had a career-high of 21 points and senior Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) added 21 points and eight rebounds as the Pioneers opened up their 2011-12 season with a 71-55 victory over Loyola Marymount at Magness Arena on Friday evening.

Sophomore Maiya Michel (Loma Linda, Calif.) had 10 points and eight rebounds for Denver (1-0). Junior Emiko Smith (Los Angeles) contributed nine assists and five steals. Sophomore Quincey Noonan (Broomfield, Colo.) added eight points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals. 

"We showed a lot of depth and balance tonight. Our starters came through and our bench played well," head coach Erik Johnson said. "Morgan and Maiya came through big in starting roles."

Denver got behind early, but thanks to Shell's 13 first-half points the Pioneers took a commanding lead midway through the half. Denver led by double digits for most of the last 10 minutes of the first session and led 35-22 when Michel hit a turnaround jumper with 46 seconds to play in the half. Denver held a 35-25 lead at intermission.

The Pioneers continued to dominate in the second half and limited LMU to just 18 shots in the half compared to 27 of their own. Denver went up 17 points when Murdoch made a free throw to finish a three-point play, giving the Pioneers a 65-48 lead with 6:21 to play in the game.

Denver was 26-of-56 from the field, shot 46.6 percent and was 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) from the free throw line in the game. Loyola Marymount shot 56.1 percent, was 23-of-41 from the floor and 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from the charity stripe.

Alex Cowling led Loyola Marymount (0-1) with 23 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

The Pioneers play host to Wyoming on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. MT. Fans can follow the game on Pioneer Radio and CoverItLive available through DenverPioneers.com.