Box Score Feb. 26, 2015 Box Score
FARGO, N.D. - Senior Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) poured in 16 points and freshman Kaila Burroughs (St. Cloud, Minn.) recorded a career-high 15 points, but it wasn't enough as the University of Denver women's basketball team lost to North Dakota State University on Thursday night at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. All five starters for North Dakota State (11-17, 7-9 Summit) scored in double figures as the Bison outlasted Denver (8-21, 5-10 Summit) 87-68.
It was a fast-paced back and forth game in the first half as the lead changed hands seven times and the score was tied on three occasions. After a layup by Van Riper-Rose gave the Pioneers a 25-21 advantage at the 7:55 mark of the first half, the Bison went on a 16-0 run during the next five minutes to seize control of the game. NDSU carried a 44-31 lead into halftime.
Early in the second half, the Bison used a 7-0 run to push their lead to 57-35 with 16:12 remaining and NDSU was able to hold off the Pioneers the rest of the way. Senior Brooke LeMar led all scorers with 20 points, 15 of them coming in the second half.
Van Riper-Rose put the Pioneers up 3-0 just 44 seconds into the game and in doing so passed Britteni Rice (2008-11) for 10th place on the Pioneers all-time scoring list. Van Riper-Rose nailed another 3-pointer in the second half, giving her 227 career 3-point baskets, which ties her with Melissa Garcia (1999-02) for 2nd in program history. Van Riper-Rose finished the game with 16 points and four rebounds. She currently has 1,299 points in her four-year career.
Three other players scored in double figures for Denver. Sophomore Alecia Espinoza (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) tallied 15 points, collected five rebounds and tied her career-high with three blocks. Point guard Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) turned in a 13-point, four-rebound and four-assist performance. Burroughs set a career-high in points with 15, field goals made with seven and tied a career-high with three steals in just 20 minutes of action.
Denver outscored NDSU in the paint 36-26 and in bench points 21-6. The Pioneers held the rebounding advantage 46-39. Freshman Jordyn Alt (North Oaks, Minn.) led the way for the Pioneers on the glass with eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end, while forward Jesse Spittel (Yorba Linda, Calif.) grabbed seven boards. As a team the Pioneers tied a season-high with seven blocks.
Freshman Taylor Thunstedt put up 19 points for the Bison, including five 3-pointers. Forward Holly Johnson finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Senior Liz Keena chipped in 10 points and snagged a game-high nine boards.
For the game, Denver shot 38 percent (29-of-76) from the field and 33 percent (4-of-12) from the 3-point line, while North Dakota State connected on 45 percent (29-of-64) of its attempts from the field and 33 percent (5-of-15) from behind the 3-point arc. The Pioneers attempted just 11 free throws in the game, making six. Meanwhile the Bison shot a remarkable 92 percent (24-of-26) from the foul line.
With the win, NDSU locks up the no. 6 seed in The Summit League Tournament and Denver will be the no. 7 seed. This means the Pioneers will play the no. 2 seed in the quarterfinals of The Summit League Tournament on Saturday, March 7 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Denver plays their regular season finale on the road Saturday at 1 p.m. MT against the Omaha Mavericks. In their first meeting this season, the Pioneers were victorious over the Mavericks 60-53 on Jan. 8 in Magness Arena. An audio-only broadcast of the game will be available on Pioneer Vision.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets to Denver home athletic events can do so by phone at 303-871-2336, in person at the Ritchie Center box office or by visiting DenverPioneers.com.
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