HONOLULU, Hawai'i - The University of Denver women's basketball team fell 70-66 to the Portland State Vikings on Tuesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i to close out the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Shootout. The loss drops the Pioneers to 8-6 on the season and improves the Vikings to 7-4.

Senior Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) led the Pioneers with 25 points, while also grabbing four rebounds. Freshman Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) posted a career-high 18 points, while grabbing three rebounds and junior Emiko Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) chipped in nine points and seven assists. Sophomore Maiya Michel (Loma Linda, Calif.) led the Pioneers with seven rebounds, while redshirt junior Morgan Shell (Marble Falls, Texas) finished with four points, five rebounds and three steals.

Kate Lanz led the Vikings with 18 points, while also grabbing 11 rebounds. Eryn Jones added 17 points, while Shauneice Samms posted 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The Vikings grabbed the lead early in the opening minutes and did not relinquish it throughout almost the entire first half until Smith's deep three-point buzzer-beater shot gave the Pioneers a 31-29 lead heading into the locker room. Smith's trey was the icing on a Pioneers' 13-3 run in the final 4:49 of the half. The Pioneers defense in the final minutes of the half forced six turnovers and six missed shots.

The Vikings came out of the locker room ready to shoot, stringing together a 21-5 run to take a 14-point lead with 11:17 left to play. The Pioneers were not able to ever regain the lead again, but were able to pull within one point, 64-63  with 44 seconds remaining as Van Riper-Rose sank a jumper. It wasn't enough though as the Vikings were able to hold the Pioneers at bay, sealing the win with solid free-throw shooting.

Up next, the Pioneers return to Denver for the holiday break. Denver will not play again until Wednesday, Dec. 28 as it opens Sun Belt Conference play for the final time against Troy University at 7 p.m. MT at Magness Arena.

-PIONEERS-