Pioneers Fall to Montana Grizzlies, 84-58

Box Score

DENVER – The University of Denver women’s basketball team dropped an 84-58 decision to visiting Montana at Magness Arena Wednesday evening. The Pioneers drop to 1-5 on the year, while the Montana Grizzles are 3-0.

“The second half we saw fight and pride from our team and that’s what we are going to build on,” said head coach Kerry Cremeans. “Give credit to Montana, they shot well they came in as a great team and have a wonderful coach. We will continue to build on those who want to fight on the court. That’s what this program is going to continue to move forward with.”

The Grizzlies made 13 three-pointers as head coach Robin Selvig grabbed win number 801 in his 36 seasons at the helm.

Sophomore guard Kailey Edwards (Broomfield, Colo.) visited the line 10 times making seven, and finished with team-high 16 points adding seven boards. Junior forward Theresa Wirth (Mesa, Ariz.) started hot from the field scoring 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field. Wirth finished with 13 points and four rebounds.

With her game-high 10 rebounds, senior forward Maiya Michel (Loma Linda, Calif.) moved into ninth place in the Pioneer Record Books with 651 career rebounds. The forward has posted a rebound in 91 straight games. She has also grabbed double-digit rebounds in three of the last six games.

The Grizzlies outscored the Pioneers 46-20 in the first half, while Torry Hill led the way with 15 points in the half. The Grizzlies ended the half on a 12-1 run.

For the night, Montana made 13 three pointers finishing 48.0 percent from beyond the arc. Hill led all scorers with 20 points on 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and added four assists. Alycia Sims followed with 13 points and six rebounds. The team recorded 22 assists, and out-rebounded the Pioneers 37-32.

Providing a spark off the bench, sophomore Michaela Neuhaus (Lone Tree, Colo) finished with seven points, two assists and two steals. Freshman Alecia Espinoza (Hacienda, Calif.) posted a career-high 10 points, adding four rebounds and setting a new career-high of 15 minutes played.

“I appreciated their effort,” said Cremeans. “I want those younger kids to get the minutes and get the experience, and I appreciate their fight and their love for DU when they get on that court and that’s what I’m looking for in each and every one of them.”

The Pioneers came back from the halftime deficit with a 13-6 run in the first seven minutes of the second half.

The Crimson and Gold shot 37.5 percent (18-of-48) from the field and shot 61.3 percent from the charity stripe. Montana finished with 29-of-59 from the field (49.2%) and was 14-of-17 (82.4%) from the free-throw line.

The Pioneers next travel to Greely, Colo., to take on in-state rival Northern Colorado Golden Bears, at 7 p.m. MT, next Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Denver Team Notes

With her 13 points, Wirth has recorded at least two points in the last 12 games dating back to last season.  The junior has also scored in double figures in four of the last six games played.
With her four rebounds, Wirth has grabbed at least one rebound in the last 19 games dating back to last season.
Van Riper-Rose extended her consecutive game starting streak to 55 games; Michel extended hers to 34 games.
With her 10 rebounds, Michel extended her streak of grabbing at least one rebound to 91 games. The senior also moved into ninth place in the Pioneer Record Books with 651 career rebounds.
With her 10 points, Espinoza recorded a new career high, surpassing her previous mark of five at Utah (11/08/13).

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