INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Denver women’s basketball team fell 82-66 to the IUPUI Jaguars on Saturday afternoon at The Jungle in Indianapolis, Ind. The loss drops the Pioneers with 3-15 on the season 1-2 in The Summit League, while the Jaguars improve to 13-6, 3-1 in league play.

Junior Theresa Wirth (Mesa, Ariz.) led the way with her fifth double-double of the season, sixth of her career, off 19 points and 11 rebounds. The junior finished perfect from the field (6-of-6) and from the line (6-of-6) to go along with three assists and one block.

The last time a Pioneers finished shooting 100.0 percent from the field was Michaela Pavlickova at UNC on Dec. 3, 1997 when she was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field.

“We knew coming into this game our defense would have to spectacular,” said head coach Kerry Cremeans. “And in the second half, we executed our defensive plan with great focus. The first half, IUPUI was able to get into the paint on us and to the free-throw line too many times.”

Also chipping in for the Pioneers was junior Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) with 12 points, while sophomore Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) posted 11 points and six assists.

Senior Alison Janecek (Omaha, Neb.) contributed on the boards, finishing with nine to go along with five points, while sophomore Kailey Edwards (Broomfield, Colo.) finished with eight points.

Denver shot 44.4 percent (20-fo-45) from the field and 84.0 percent (21-of-25) from the free-throw line. IUPUI shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field and 69.2 percent (27-of-39) from the line.

Four Jaguars finished in double figures as Akilah Sims led the way with 18 points. DeAirra Goss finished with 16 points, followed by Nicole Rogers and Katie Comello with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Junior Jordan Johnston (Waterloo, Iowa) led the Pioneers in the second half with six points, four coming from the line off a perfect 4-of-4 showing, while Wirth grabbed seven of her 11 total rebounds in the second half. Denver shot a perfect 8-of-8 from the line in the second half and improved from the field, shooting 47.6 percent, but it wasn’t enough as the Jaguars outscored the Pioneers 33-29.

Wirth led the Pioneers with 15 points in the first half on a perfect showing from the field (4-of-4) and the line (6-of-6). The forward also had four rebounds, three assists and one block. Van Riper-Rose dished in eight points, while Bradley chipped in six points and three assists.

Denver shot 41.7 percent from the field in the first half (10-of-24), compared to IUPUI’s 60.0 percent (18-of-30). Denver was also 50.0 percent from three-point range (4-of-8) and 76.5 percent from the line (13-of-17).

Denver returns home to host two league games, beginning with Omaha on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at Magness Arena. The Pioneers then welcome Western Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 26 for a 1 p.m. tip-off. Prior to the Pioneers’ game against the Leathernecks, Denver will host the annual Alumnae Game at 9 a.m. MT at Magness Arena.

Denver Team Notes

• Bradley has recorded three or more assists in 17-of-18 games this season. She has also scored in double figures in 12 games this season and has grabbed at least one rebound in every game.
• Edwards has started in 32 straight games dating back to last season.
• Espinoza has grabbed at least one rebound in 12-of-16 games played.
• Van Riper-Rose has finished in double figures in 8-of-15 games played.
• Wirth has recorded two or more points in the last 24 games dating back to last season. She has also grabbed at least one rebound in 32 straight games dating back to last season.
• Wirth has finished in double figures in 9-of-18 games this season.
• With her 19 points and 11 rebounds, Wirth has recorded five double-doubles this season, six over her career.

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