HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Despite a 21-point performance Sunday from senior forward Kaetlyn Murdoch, the University of Denver women’s basketball team fell 67-59 to Florida International in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament.
Sophomore guard Quincey Noonan returned from injury to score a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, and Murdoch added seven rebounds. The Pioneers (19-12), led by Murdoch, tallied 20 points in the paint and shot 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the field.
“FIU did a phenomenal job in the second half,” DU coach Erik Johnson said. “When two great teams play each other the team that makes more plays is going to win, and FIU did that today.”
The Panthers (22-9) scored the game’s first six points, but Noonan and Murdoch combined for DU’s first 11 points, and the Pioneers led 30-23 at halftime.
The Pioneers’ season is now in the hands of the Women’s NIT committee, as DU is seeking its second consecutive berth in the postseason tournament.
