BOX SCORE

INDIANAPOLIS - Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) led the Pioneers with 26 points as the University of Denver women's basketball team fell to IUPUI 81-75 in double overtime Thursday night in Indianapolis.

DU's 75 points is a new season high this year for points scored in a game by the squad.

In addition to Bradley's team-high 26 points, Alecia Espinoza (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) and Samantha Romanowski (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) reached double digits, posting 14 and 13 points, respectively. Ciera Morgan (Parker, Colo.) led the Pioneers in rebounds and assists with five rebounds and four assists. Bradley also recorded three steals in the game.

The Pioneers led the Jaguars 19-14 after the opening 10 minutes. Bradley got off to a quick start with 10 points in the first quarter, including shooting 2-for-2 from the 3-point line. Denver's defense also began the game strong with three stops on the first three IUPUI possessions and eliminating the 3-point threat.

The Jaguars adjusted to Denver's defense in the second quarter, outscoring the Pioneers 21-12. IUPUI gained a 21-19 lead with seven unanswered points to begin the second quarter before Bradley forced a travel and converted the field goal off the turnover.

The Pioneers and Jaguars battled for the rest of the second quarter. Back-to-back baskets from Avery Queen (Boerne, Texas) and Romanowski cut IUPUI's lead to 30-29 and prompted a Jaguar timeout with 1:27 remaining in the first half.

Denver trailed 35-31 at halftime, with Bradley increasing her point total to 14, tying her team-high output from the last game.

Morgan led the Pioneers with four rebounds. DU shot 52.0 percent (13-of-25) in the first half, while IUPUI hit 46.9 percent (15-of-32). From behind the 3-point arc, Denver hit 42.9 percent (3-of-7) and the Jaguars recorded 50 percent (4-of-8).

IUPUI struggled from the free-throw line, only shooting 20.0 percent (1-of-5) in the first half.

The Pioneers held the Jaguars scoreless for the first 4:50 of the third quarter, regaining the lead in the process.

At the media timeout with 4:51 to go in the third quarter, the Pioneers led 40-37 off of scores from Morgan, Bradley, Alt and Queen.

Denver shot at least 50.0 percent in all categories in the third quarter, while they held the Jaguars without points from the 3-point and free-throw lines. Denver outscored IUPUI 16-10 in the third quarter to hold a 47-45 lead going into the final 10 minutes.

Denver kept the momentum to begin the fourth quarter. A steal by Romanowski led to a fast break that resulted in a three-point play from Espinoza, who was sent to the line after making the offensive rebound and layup.

The Pioneers continued to attack as back-to-back 3-pointers from Morgan and Bradley forced an IUPUI timeout with 4:48 remaining in the game and gave the Pioneers the nine-point lead, 58-49.

Queen played well down the stretch, after Jordyn Alt (North Oaks, Minn.) fouled out with 4:09 to go. The sophomore from Texas forced a jump ball situation to give Denver the ball with 2:15 remaining and pulled down a critical rebound with 1:21 to go.

Two free throws from IUPUI's Akilah Sims with 7.2 seconds to go tied the score at 59. The Pioneers could not convert in the final seconds.

The Jaguars were sent to the line two different times to get on the board first in overtime.

Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.) hit her second basket of the night and Morgan was sent to the line due to a foul under the basket to give Denver the 63-61 lead with 3:37 remaining.

IUPUI and Denver traded baskets to give Denver the 67-65 lead before IUPUI called a timeout with 16.4 seconds remaining in the overtime period. Once again, the Jaguars were clutch from the free throw line, with Danielle Lawrence making two with 0.6 seconds left to send the game to a second overtime.

The Pioneers struggled with Poss, Bradley and Morgan fouling out in the second overtime period. In addition to 12 points from the free throw line, IUPUI also tallied six points off of Denver turnovers. The Pioneers ultimately fell 81-75 after 50 minutes of play.

Denver shot 46.8 percent (29-of-62) from the field, and IUPUI hit 39.1 percent (27-of-69) of its shots.

Denver hit 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from behind the 3-point line, while the Jaguars hit 23.5 percent (4-of-17).

IUPUI overcame its early free throw woes to hit 65.7 percent (23-of-35), while Denver shot 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from the free throw line.

Mikale Rogers led the Jaguars with 29 points in the game.

Up Next
Denver (4-17, 2-6 SL) will close out its road trip at Fort Wayne Saturday. The Pioneers and Mastodons will square off at 12 p.m. MT.

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