Nov. 11, 2011

Box Score

DENVER - Redshirt junior Alex Cowling exploded for 16 second-half points, but the effort was not enough as the LMU women's basketball team fell 71-55 to the University of Denver Friday at Magness Arena.

The 2011-12 season opener for both squads, LMU is now 0-1 on the year while the Pioneers move to 1-0.

Second chance opportunities for the Pioneers combined with 20 turnovers were too much to overcome, despite a strong start for the Lions.

Junior guard Monica DeAngelis and freshman forward Ashley Lovett combined for LMU's first 11 points as the Lions took an 11-5 lead early. But Denver found its rhythm after the first media timeout, reeling off 10 straight points before Cowling nailed her first bucket of the game to make it 15-13 DU at the 11:44 mark.

Denver pushed the lead to 11 with a nine-point run before a pair of DeAngelis free throws cut the spread to 24-15. A Maia Michel jumper gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the half, 35-22, with 47 seconds remaining before Cowling scored an old-fashion three-point play to send the LMU into the locker room trailing 35-25.

The Lions cut the lead to nine points on three occasions in the second half, each time on a layup by Cowling, and shot a stellar 78 percent from the field, but they were never able to get over the hump.

Cowling finished with a game-high 23 points on 11-for-15 shooting. She was one rebound shy of a double-double, pulling down a team-high nine. Also scoring in double-figures for LMU was DeAngelis with 15.

Denver was led by the one-two punch of Kaetlyn Murdoch and Morgan Shell with 21 points apiece. Emiko Smith pulled down a team high nine rebounds while Murdoch and Maiya Michel added eight each.

The Pioneers finished with a 34-23 rebounding advantage, including 15 offensive boards.

The Lions return to Gersten Pavilion for their home opener on Monday, Nov. 14, hosting Big West Conference member Cal State Northridge. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.