Denver Goes Downtown To Defeat UC Irvine, 62-52
November 21, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Irvine, Calif. – Denver drained nine three-pointers on its way to a 62-52 victory over UC Irvine Wednesday at the Bren Events Center.
UC Irvine was led by junior guard Jennifer Tsurumoto with 10 points and a career-best five rebounds. Junior guard Kelly Meggs hit three three-pointers and collected five rebounds and five assists. Meggs' five rebounds tied her career best. Camille Buckley, Lauren Spinazze and Mokun Fajemisin each added eight points with Buckley leading the team with seven rebounds. The Anteaters shot 34 percent from the field (18-53) and just 55.6 percent from the free throw line (10-18). UCI had six three-pointers.
Denver's Morgan Van Riper-Rose had a game-high 21 points, going 8-19 from the field and 5-11 from three-point range. Emiko Smith totaled 12 points and five assists, while Maiya Michel had a game-high nine rebounds. Denver ended the night shooting 9-26 in threes and 23-54 from the floor overall (42.6%). The Pioneers led the Anteaters in rebounding, 38-36.
UC Irvine held a 14-10 lead with 13:16 remaining in the first half before Denver scored 11 straight, including three three-pointers, to go ahead 21-14 at 8:59. The Pioneers would extend the advantage to 14 (34-20) at 3:20 before UCI would score the last seven points of the half and trail 34-27 at intermission. Denver, who shot 48 percent (14-29) from the floor, used the long ball to get ahead knocking down five three-pointers.
Von Riper-Rose hit a three-pointer at 14:14 to give Denver the 43-34 lead, but UCI would rally scoring the next eight to close within one (43-42) with 10:49 left. The Pioneers answered with six of their own to push the margin back to 49-42 at 8:14. The Anteaters would manage just four free throws, until Kelly Meggs knocked down a three-pointer at 1:17. Lauren Spinzze closed out the scoring with a three-pointer with 17 seconds remaining, 62-52.
Denver picks up its first win of the season (1-3), while UC Irvine remains winless at 0-4.
UCI will participate in the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic hosted by New Mexico State Friday and Saturday (Nov. 23-24). The Anteaters will battle Drake Friday at 1:30 p.m. PT. in the Pan American Center.
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