DENVER- Sophomore guard Kailey Edwards (Broomfield, Colo.) led the Pioneers with 25 points (10-of-13) as the University of Denver women’s basketball team topped visiting Western Illinois, 87-83 at Magness Arena on Sunday afternoon. The win improves Denver’s record to 5-15 overall, 3-2 in The Summit League. The Pioneers are now ranked fourth in The Summit League.

Edwards shot 76 percent and finished the game with five assists. Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) recorded a career high with eight assists, while recording 15 points (5-of-11) and three steals.

Senior Alison Janecek (Omaha, Neb.) set a new career record with 12 rebounds and junior Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) tied her career high with five assists and grabbed six rebounds for the Pioneers.

“We try to be a transitioning offensive team,” said head coach Kerry Cremeans. “I think the thing I’m most proud of is 26 assists, because that means we are sharing the basketball, we are executing offensively, making that extra pass, finding the open shooter and finding the best shot on the floor.”

The Pioneers shot 59 percent (36-of-60) from the field and 47 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range. The Leathernecks shot 44 percent (31-of-70) from the field and 36 percent (12-of-33) from three-point range.

Besides the Leathernecks scoring the first basket, Denver led the rest of the game leading by nine going into the half. The Pioneers increased their lead by as much as 13 points in the second half, but the Leathernecks’ tough defense pulled them to within three points with 31 seconds remaining. Free throws from Edwards and Van Riper-Rose put the Pioneers ahead by seven with 12 seconds remaining.  

Jordan Johnston (Waterloo, Iowa) scored in double digits for the second game in a row, recording 12 points, while Alecia Espinoza (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) tied her career high of one block for the seventh time this season.

Western Illinois was led by sophomore guard Michelle Maher’s 22 points (7-of-18). Forward Ashley Luke grabbed nine rebounds and recorded 17 points and forward Tori Niemann grabbed eight rebounds and recorded 15 points and four steals. Senior Rebecca Henricson added eight assists. The Leathernecks record drops to 10-10 (2-3 in The Summit League).

Denver will continue conference play as it starts its three-game road trip at South Dakota State on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. MT.

Denver Team Notes.

·  Bradley has recorded three or more assists in 19-of-20 games this season and set a career high with eight assists. She has also scored in double figures in 14 games this season and has grabbed at least one rebound in every game.

·  Van Riper-Rose recorded a new career high with five assists.

·  Edwards has started in 34 straight games dating back to last season.

·  Wirth has recorded two or more points in the last 26 games dating back to last season. She has also grabbed at least one rebound in 34 straight games dating back to last season.

·  Wirth has finished in double figures in six consecutive games, and in 11 games total this season.

·  Alison Janecek set a new career record with 12 rebounds

·  Alecia Espinoza tied her career high of one block for the seventh time this season.

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