HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Unable to convert against a man-to-man defense coach Erik Johnson described as “suffocating,” the University of Denver women’s basketball team went scoreless in the second overtime and was knocked out of the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals Monday, losing 70-60 to Arkansas-Little Rock.
The Pioneers, who trailed by as many as eight points in the second half, led 54-51 with 24 seconds to play in regulation and had successfully defended against UALR’s attempt to free guard Kim Sitzmann for a 3-pointer.
But Sitzmann drove, made a layup and drew a blocking foul. Her free throw tied the score at 54.
Denver led again, 60-56, in the first overtime when Britteni Rice scored on a drive with 2:05 left. But UALR, playing without first-team all-conference forward Chastity Reed, who fouled out, answered with four points, and the Pioneers did not score again.
Johnson said DU played hard against a physical UALR team.
“I told the kids to get their mouthpieces in, their boxing gloves, their knee pads, whatever we had to do, and I thought we went out and battled,” he said.
Rice led the Pioneers with 15 points. Nnenna Akotaobi added 14, and Kaetlyn Murdoch, the Sun Belt freshman of the year, scored 11 despite sitting out the last 9:38 of the first half after picking up her second foul.
Murdoch finished with her second double-double of the tournament (12 rebounds) and moved into a tie for eighth place on the Pioneers’ all-time list for blocked shots (72) despite being a freshman.
“It was a tough loss, but I think we left our hearts on the court,” she said.
The Pioneers (16-15) are waiting to see if they receive an invitation to the Women’s NIT.
“These are wonderful kids,” Johnson said. “They know they’re probably going to go get MBAs rather than go to the WNBA, and they understand what we’re doing here. The seniors built something, and the younger ones know what we’re building and what we’re going to do in the future. So they’re OK.”
DENVER (16-15)
Otero 4-9 0-0 9, Rice 4-11 7-8 15, Robinson 2-7 0-0 4, Murdoch 5-9 1-1 11, Mason 0-2 0-0 0, Culberson 2-5 3-8 7, Vaughan 0-0 0-0 0, Akotaobi 6-10 2-6 14, Leichliter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 13-23 60.
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK (26-5)
Reed 7-21 3-4 17, Kursh 2-5 2-5 6, Rolfe 1-5 0-2 3, Cooper 8-17 8-8 24, Sitzmann 7-16 2-3 18, Butler 0-0 0-1 0, Williams 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 26-67 15-23 70.
Halftime — Arkansas-Little Rock 27-26. End of regulation — Tied at 54. End of first overtime — Tied at 60. 3-point goals —Denver 1-9 (Otero 1-4, Culberson 0-1, Mason 0-2, Rice 0-2), Arkansas-Little Rock 3-13 (Sitzmann 2-8, Rolfe 1-4, Reed 0-1). Fouled out —Otero, Rice Reed. Rebounds — Denver 43 (Murdoch 12), Arkansas-Little Rock 37 (Reed 9). Assists — Denver 6 (Otero 2), Arkansas-Little Rock 20 (Rolfe 5). Total fouls —Denver 24, Arkansas-Little Rock 19.
