DENVER – All five Pioneer starters scored in double figures as the University of Denver beat North Dakota State 87-74 on Saturday at Magness Arena.

Sophomore guard Kailey Edwards (Broomfield, Colo.) led the team with 24 points, shooting 9-of-10 from the field (90.0 percent) and matching her career high with six assists.

Junior forward Theresa Wirth (Mesa, Ariz.) and junior guard Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) added 21 and 11 points, respectively. Grabbing seven rebounds, Wirth recorded personal records in field goals made (9) and field goals attempted (12), shooting 75 percent from the field.

Senior Alison Janecek (Omaha, Neb.) recorded her third double-double of the season, with 12 points and game-high 11 rebounds. Matching her career high in assists (3), the forward shot 6-of-9 (66.0) from the field. 

Denver’s offensive hustle led to shooting 61.8 percent from the field and helped the Pioneers lead by as many as 13 points on five occasions in the second half. For the game, Denver out-rebounded the Bison, 36-30 and tallied 23 assists.

During the first half, the lead changed hands seven times, but an 8-0 run by DU late in the first half helped put the Pioneers up 41-34 going into the break. Denver made 18-of-32 (56.3 percent) from the field in the opening 20 minutes with Edwards leading the way with 14 points, which included a flawless 6-for-6 performance from the paint.  

The Bison were led by forwards Holly Johnson and Marena Whittle, scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively. NDSU shot 42.0 percent (29-for-69) from the field and 10-of-11 (90.9 percent) from the free-throw line.

The Bison end the regular season with an overall record of 6-23 and a 2-12 mark in conference play.

Before the game, Denver honored five seniors in recognition of senior night. Janecek, guard Quincey Noonan (Broomfield, Colo.) and forwards Desiree Hunter (Cypress, Calif.), Maiya Michel (Loma Linda, Calif.), and Brianna Tisch (Chaska, Minn.) will graduate this June.

The Pioneers will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to compete in The Summit League conference tournament next Saturday with a automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament at stake.

DENVER PREGAME SENIOR DAY CEREMONY

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