Box Score Feb. 28, 2015 WBB at Omaha (28 FEB 15) - Audio Only
Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. - Sophomore forward Jesse Spittel (Yorba Linda, Calif.) put in 12 points and collected a career-high 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the University of Denver women's basketball team as Omaha turned in a stellar defensive performance and edged the Pioneers 53-40 on Saturday afternoon in Sapp Fieldhouse. Denver (8-22, 5-11 Summit) was held to 27 percent shooting by Omaha (10-18, 5-11 Summit).
It was a tightly contested low-scoring affair in the first half as the lead changed hands four times and the score was tied four times. After Mavericks point guard Madi Robson split a pair of free throws that gave Omaha a 20-12 advantage with 5:26 remaining in the first half, the Pioneers went on a 9-0 run to close out the first half and took a 21-20 lead into the break.
In the second half, Omaha used a 20-4 run to start the half and took control of the game. The Mavericks entered the game first in The Summit League in opponent field goal percentage and their tough matchup zone gave Denver trouble all afternoon.
Senior Morgan Van Riper-Rose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was the other Pioneer in double figures with 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Van Riper-Rose moved into 9th place on Denver's all-time scoring list with 1,309 career points. Van Riper-Rose passed Michelle Studer (1986-89) for 9th place. With two more made 3-pointers, Van Riper-Rose now has the second most made 3-pointers in program history. Van Riper-Rose has connected on 229 3-pointers in her career, she moved past Melissa Garcia (1998-02) on Saturday.
Omaha was led by sophomore Mikaela Shaw, who recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Taijhe Kelly was also in double figures for Omaha with 14 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks.
For the game, Denver shot 27 percent (17-of-62) from the field and nine percent (2-of-22) from the 3-point line, while Omaha connected on 46 percent (20-of-44) of its attempts from the field and 23 percent (3-of-13) from behind the 3-point arc. The Pioneers attempted just six free throws in the game, making four. Meanwhile, the Mavs shot 71 percent (10-of-14) from the foul line.
With the completion of the regular season, Denver heads to The Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. next weekend. The Pioneers enter the tournament as the no. 7 seed and play the no. 2 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits in The Summit League Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 7 at 1:30 p.m. MT at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. For tickets to The Summit League Tournament click here.
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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