WBB v North Dakota State (11 JAN 15) - Highlights
WBB v North Dakota State (11 JAN 15) - Post Game
WBB v North Dakota State (11 JAN 15) - Full Game

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver women's basketball team outfought the North Dakota State University Bison down the stretch on Sunday afternoon at Magness Arena and won their fifth straight home game. Denver (6-12, 3-1) overcame a 9-point halftime deficit and handed North Dakota State (7-9, 3-1) their first league loss of the season, 75-73.

The second half was a physical battle as the Pioneers closed the Bison's lead to five points by going on a 13-9 run during the first 4:31. Denver shot 50 percent (16-of-32) from the field in the second half. Sophomore Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.) made one of the plays of the game as she hit a nine-foot jumper and drew a foul. She converted the 3-point play and gave the Pioneers their first lead of the second half, 65-64 with 4:34 remaining. Poss would later hit a huge 3-pointer to tie the game at 68 with 2:16 left in the game. She finished with 11 points and four rebounds off the bench for Denver.

Senior guard Jordan Johnston (Waterloo, Iowa) set a new career-high with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, including four 3-pointers. Johnston also recorded five rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes of action.

Junior Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) poured in a season-high 20 points to go along with three rebounds and five assists. Bradley also made a career best nine free throws and nailed three of the Pioneers' nine 3-pointers. Denver buried seven 3-pointers (7-of-13) in the second half, which makes 45 in the last four home games from deep for the Pioneers.

Sophomores Jesse Spittel (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Alecia Espinoza (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) took care of the glass for the Pioneers, with each forward grabbed seven rebounds. Spittel snagged five offensive rebounds and put in six points. Espinoza finished with five points.

The Pioneers had their hands full from the start as the lead changed five times in the first half. Denver, who has made 36 3-pointers in the last three home games, did not sink the first deep ball until the 6:43 mark in the first half. The Pioneers struggled to find the bottom of the net in the first half, shooting 30 percent (9-of-30) from the field. Denver would finish the game shooting 40 percent (25-of-62) from the field and 39 percent (9-of-23) from 3-point land.

North Dakota State took control of the paint in the first half outscoring Denver 16-10 in the paint. The Bison also scored eight points off of six Denver turnovers. The Pioneers would not go away, as Johnston led Denver with nine points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting.

North Dakota State was led by junior Holly Johnson who recorded a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Senior and Summit League leading scorer Brooke LeMar chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. LeMar also went 6-of-6 from the free throw line. The Bison shot 41 percent (28-of-68) from the field and 34 percent (8-of-23) from behind the arc.

The Pioneers will be back in action against Summit League foe Western Illinois on Thursday, January 15 at 7 p.m. MT 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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