WBB v South Dakota (5 FEB 16) - Post Game
WBB v South Dakota (5 FEB 16) - Full Game

BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY

DENVER - A strong opening quarter wasn't enough to keep the University of Denver women's basketball team on pace with a fast-playing South Dakota squad on Friday night. The Pioneers fell 79-33 to the Coyotes at Magness Arena.

DU's 33 points tied for a season-low.

Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas) led the attack with a team-high nine points. The senior's nine points moved her into 18th all-time in the program's scoring list.

Denver came out of the gates focused and ready to battle, using smart ball movement on offense to find good shots that they consistently knocked down to keep up with high-scoring South Dakota, who entered the game 12th in scoring in the country at 80.1 points per game. The Pioneers slowed down late in the first quarter, resulting in a three-point deficit through one.

Ciera Morgan (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) led the DU charge in the opening 10 minutes with six points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field.

In the second, the Coyotes found the separation they were looking for with an 11-0 run to push their lead into double digits. Denver finally snapped its scoreless streak with a 3 from Jacqlyn Poss (Shoreview, Minn.) at the 5:47 mark.

USD closed out the quarter strong, outscoring the Pioneers 22-7 to take a 40-22 lead into the half.

DU shot okay in the first half, going 10-for-25 (40 percent), but couldn't keep pace with South Dakota's high-paced offense, which shot 53.6 percent in the first 20 minutes.

The Coyotes put it away in the third, outscoring Denver 24-7 in the quarter. USD was feeling it from the field, going 7-for-11 (63.6 percent).

USD continued its stellar play in the fourth, going on to pick up the victory.

Keep on Climbing
Bradley now is one point away from moving into a tie for 17th all-time on the scoring list with Ashley Atkinson.

Up Next
Denver (4-19, 2-8 SL) will return to Magness Arena on Sunday as they play host to Oral Roberts. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. MT.

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