HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Despite a 21-point performance from senior forward Kaetlyn Murdoch (Temple, Texas), the University of Denver fell to the Florida International Panthers 67-59 in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Sun Belt Championships at the Convention Center Court on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Sophomore guard Quincey Noonan (Broomfield, Colo.) returned from injury to score a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, while Murdoch added seven rebounds. The Pioneers (19-12), led by Murdoch, tallied 20 points in the paint and shot 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the field.

 

 

"FIU did a phenomenal job in the second half," head coach Erik Johnson said. "Jerica Coley was named SBC Player of the Year for a reason. I thought we did a great job defending her, but she willed her way to the line and found ways to score. When two great teams play each other the team that makes more plays is going to win and FIU did that today."

  

The Panthers (22-9) scored the game’s first six points, but Noonan and Murdoch combined for DU’s first 11 points, and sophomore forward Maiya Michel (Loma Linda, Calif.) converted on a three-point play to give the Pioneers a 14-12 lead at the 10:16 mark. The Crimson and Gold found their rhythm, as six straight points from junior guard Morgan Shell (Marble Falls, Texas) capped a 13-4 run, and Denver stretched the lead to 30-23 at halftime.

 

Denver found its stroke quickly again in the second half, as Noonan continued her perfect shooting from the field with a three-pointer at the 19:42 mark that sparked an 8-2 run for the Pioneers. Following a pair of trips to the free throw line for freshman guard Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.), and a basket from Noonan, Denver took its largest lead of the game at 26-39 with 16:42 left in regulation.

 

The Panthers answered with a 10-2 run, cutting Denver’s lead to three points with just over 13 minutes left in the game.

 

DU held Sun Belt Player of the Year Jerica Coley to just four points through the 7:32 mark in the second half, but then Coley took over. The sophomore guard scored 18 points through the end of the game, including 11 from the free throw line, and FIU led by as many as nine points with 25 seconds to play.

 

 

The Pioneers' season is now in the hands of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) committee, as DU will look for its second straight berth in the postseason tournament.

 

Visit DenverPioneers.com for the most comprehensive coverage of Denver women’s basketball, as well as all of DU’s 17 athletic programs.

 

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