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WBB v UMKC (6 DEC 14) - Highlights
WBB v UMKC (6 DEC 14) - Post Game
WBB v UMKC (6 DEC 14) - Full Game

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver women's basketball team takes down the University of Missouri-Kansas City for their first win on Saturday afternoon at Magness Arena. Denver (1-6) defeated UMKC (2-6), 74-66.

The Pioneers clung to a six point lead with 1:00 remaining in the game when junior Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) drove the lane and dished it off to freshman Jordyn Alt (North Oaks, Minn.) who sank her fifth, and most important, bucket of the game to make the score 69-62. At that point the `Roos were forced to foul and senior Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) netted four of five free throws down the stretch to seal it for Denver.

For the second game in a row the Pioneers came out of the gate hot, going on a 6-0 run during the first 3:42. The Denver defense held the `Roos to just 18 points in the first half on 21 percent shooting from the field. Denver controlled the boards in the first half outrebounding UMKC 29 to 19, with 14 boards coming on the offensive end. The Pioneers' 14 offensive boards led to 13 second-chance points and a 41-18 halftime lead.

Denver led from the outset and pushed the lead to as many as 26 points with 19:39 in the second half. The Pioneers scored 13 points off of 12 UMKC turnovers.

Alt led the Pioneers with her first career double-double as she scored a career-high 15 points and matched a career-high with 10 rebounds.

The Pioneers kept the energy going into the second half as they rained in 33 points to push their total to a season-high 74. Denver moved the ball well throughout the game and finished with a season-high 17 assists.

Bradley was one of the offensive catalysts for Denver distributing six assists to go along with 10 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.) contributed nine points off the bench for Denver.

Van Riper-Rose also dished out six assists and put in 11 points, which gives her 1,028 career points. With two seconds left Van Riper-Rose knocked down a pair for free throws to surpass Tasha Jones on the all-time scoring list. Van Riper-Rose is now in 21^st place on Denver's all-time scoring list.

Sophomore Alecia Espinoza (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) had her second straight strong outing for the Pioneers. She grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds and chipped in seven points.

UMKC was led by sophomore Calli White who had 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Freshman Samantha Waldron scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds for the 'Roos.

The Pioneers made a season best 25 field goals and shot 35 percent from beyond the three-point line. Denver also went 17 of 22 from the free-throw line.

Denver will look to build on the victory as they take on the Air Force Academy Falcons on Monday, December 8 at 7 p.m. in Magness Arena.

Information on all DU Basketball ticketing options can be obtained by calling the Daniel L. Ritchie Center Box Office at (303) 871-2336, or by visiting the ticket page on DenverPioneers.com.

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