MONROE, La. - Led by a 32-point combined performance from the Pioneers' three freshmen, the University of Denver women's basketball team outlasted the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 52-49 on Thursday evening from the Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, La. The win improves the Pioneers to 12-8 overall, 4-2 in SBC play.

Freshman Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the Pioneers with 15 points, nine coming from beyond the arc. Fellow freshmen Jordan Johnston (Waterloo, Iowa) and Theresa Wirth (Mesa, Ariz.) finished with 13 and four points, respectively, Johnston tying her career high. Senior Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas) rounded out the double-figure scoring with 10 points, while also grabbing seven rebounds.

"We played very well defensively in the first half, but failed to take advantage of it on the offensive side of the floor," said head coach Erik Johnson. "Our freshmen stepped up big for us and provided a great spark off the bench. I'm not going to complain about a win on the road. We made the plays when we had to. Now we are on to Denton to take on a very good North Texas team."

Sophomore Maiya Michel (Loma Linda, Calif.) led the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers with nine, one shy of tying her career-high. Junior Emiko Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) led the way with seven assists and three steals.

Despite leading 27-15 heading into the half, the Pioneers struggled from the field in the first half, shooting 37.0 percent on 10-of-27 shooting. Murdoch and Johnston led the Pioneers with eight points each, while Michel had six rebounds.

ULM outscored Denver 34-25 in the second half on 43.3 percent shooting from the field. The Warhawks used a 19-10 run to start the second half to pull within three points of the Pioneers with 11:47 remaining. However, the Pioneers continued to keep the Warhawks at bay as Van Riper-Rose sank two-consecutive three-pointers to put the Pioneers back up by nine.

ULM answered with 5-0 run to pull back within three points, but Johnston answered for the Pioneers with a three-pointer to give DU a six point lead with 7:01 left to play. The Warhawks continued to pressure, pulling within two, 46-44, of the Pioneers with 6:05 left, but sophomore Alison Janecek (Omaha, Neb.) sank a deep jumper from the top of the key to give the Pioneers a four-point cushion.

The Warhawks pulled back within two points off a jumper by Larrie Williams, who finished the night with nine points, but Murdoch converted a lay-up with 2:02 left to play to put the Pioneers back up by four. Johnston extended the Pioneers lead to six with a jumper in the paint with 1:23 remaining. Elizabeth Torres pulled the Warhawks to within three points with her second three-pointer of the night with 58 second remaining, but the Pioneers played tough defense in the final seconds of the game to seal the win.

Taylor Maricle and Torres led the Warhawks with 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Williams grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

The Pioneers remain on the road, traveling to Denton, Texas to face the North Texas Mean Green on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. MT. Live Stats, a Live Blog and Pioneer Radio will all be available at DenverPioneers.com.

-PIONEERS-