HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - University of Denver junior forward Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) scored 19 points and had four steals, but the Pioneers were upset 65-57 to Western Kentucky in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on Convention Center Court on Sunday afternoon.

The Pioneers (19-11) led 50-49 with 7:21 to play, but Western Kentucky (14-16) ended the game on a 16-7 run that included seven free throws.

"Congratulations to Western Kentucky, they did a great job. I thought that our team did a phenomenal job of executing our game plan," head coach Erik Johnson said. "Western Kentucky is a very good team, and you have to be prepared to play them and not give them what they are really good at. As with all season, our players did a great job. They listen, they executed the game plan, they believe in each other, they know what they are doing, and we were in a great position to win the basketball game because of that. Western Kentucky deserves all the credit in this case.

The Pioneers shot 35.7 percent (20-of-56) from the floor and just 2-of-10 from three-point range, while WKU went 23-of-52 (44.2 percent) from the field and 7-of-14 from beyond the arc.

"They made baskets and we didn't shoot the ball well," Johnson said. "Sometimes it just comes down to that. It wasn't a game where our players didn't show up, it was not a game where our players didn't try hard or didn't give effort. It wasn't because any of those things, they did all the right things. Unfortunately they came up short."

Senior forward Brianna Culberson (Jefferson City, Mo.) had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and senior guard Britteni Rice (Pampa, Texas) added 11 points.

The game was tight throughout the first half, as both teams shot exactly 40.0 percent, but the Hilltoppers turned the ball over 13 times, and DU capitalized with 14 points off those turnovers. Denver took a 32-28 lead to the half.

The Ladytoppers were led by Vanessa Obafemi, who scored 16 points, including four three-pointers.

The Pioneers now must hope for an invitation to postseason play.