WBB v Western Illinois (10 FEB 16) - Highlights
WBB v Western Illinois (10 FEB 16) - Full Game
WBB v Western Illinois (10 FEB 16) - Post Game

BOX SCORE

DENVER - Despite rallying from down 13 late in the third quarter, the University of Denver women's basketball team came up short on Wednesday night, losing 80-69 to Western Illinois at Magness Arena.

Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) led the Pioneers with a game-high 26 points, moving her into 14th place on the all-time scoring list. The Texas native finished 10-for-20 from the field, including going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Samantha Romanowski (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) had her best game since coming back from injury, scoring 18 points.

The Leathernecks were led by a 20-point, 15-rebound performance from Sophie Reichelt.

Michelle Maher added 18 for WIU.

DU knocked down seven 3s in the loss.

Denver came out swinging with a 10-2 run to open the game, powered by multiple players contributing on the offensive end. The Pioneers really had it going in the opening five minutes, going 5-for-7 (71.4 percent) to start.

A 12-2 run by Western Illinois gave it a two-point advantage after the first quarter at 14-12. DU, who started the game with a solid start on offense, went just 1-for-8 in the second part of the quarter.

In the second, the Leathernecks expanded their lead to eight after a couple of quick scores made it a 28-20 contest. Denver responded though, with an 11-4 run to retake the lead at 31-30 after Maya Rodgers (Meridian, Idaho) converted a three-point play at the foul line.

WIU closed strong with a 9-3 run to take a five-point edge at halftime at 39-34, ending a first half full of runs by each team.

The Pioneers shot a solid 45.2 percent in the first 20 minutes, while Western Illinois finished at 41.9.

Bradley and Romanowski each had it going in the half, with both scoring in double figures.

Another fast start for the Leathernecks to open the third led to them building a 13-point lead, its largest of the night, at the first media timeout of the quarter. WIU's start was sparked by hot shooting from the field, going 5-for-6 in the first 4:47.

The Pioneers were able to get back to within six points before a late push from Western Illinois allowed for it to get back up to 13 near the end of the third.

Despite trailing, DU found its groove in the fourth, eventually taking a 63-62 lead at the 3:43 mark after a layup from Jesse Spittel (Yorba Linda, Calif.), upping her total to six points on the evening.

The Leathernecks, though, closed with a fury, outscoring Denver 18-6 over the final 3:49 to get the win, the result of the Pioneers not getting enough stops on defense and going cold on the other side of the court.

Up Next
Denver (4-21, 2-10 SL) closes out its homestand with a game on Sunday as they take on IUPUI. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. MT as part of a doubleheader with the men's team.

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