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Not many Division I women’s basketball programs can boast three individuals with career totals of 1,000 points.
However, DU can, following last week’s performance from senior Brianna Culberson who scored a career-high 26 points in a winning effort over Arkansas State on Wednesday night in Magness Arena and then recorded her 1,000th career point in a 71-68 road loss against Sun Belt Conference heavyweight Middle Tennessee (16-4, 7-0).
Culberson, who was named Sun Belt Conference player of the week on Monday, joins teammates Britteni Rice and Kaetlyn Murdoch, who entered the 1,000 point club earlier this season.
“Brianna Culberson does what she does, and that is finding ways to score,” said head coach Erik Johnson. “She can score inside, she can score outside and she can score from mid-range.”
Culberson becomes the 21st player to reach the mark after back-to-back double-double performances last week in which she grabbed 10 and 13 rebounds, respectively.
The Pioneers (12-8, 4-3) elevated to 4-2 in conference play after knocking off Arkansas State 65-56, but couldn’t get past the undefeated Blue Raiders on Sunday afternoon, falling to 4-3 in conference play and leaving them tied for the No. 2 seed with Louisiana Monroe in the West Division of the SBC.
“Our players fought hard, but you have to give credit to Rick Insell and his team. They are young, but he’s got them playing very well,” said Johnson. We know the NCAA Tournament goes through Middle Tennessee, and we hope to get another shot at them at the Sun Belt Tournament.”
Murdoch and sophomore point guard Emiko Smith were big contributors in the loss. Murdoch finished with a game-high 25 points, while Smith led all players with nine assists.
Rice returned from an illness and finished with 12 points.
The Pioneers fought hard in the first half, battling for seven lead changes and four ties, but couldn’t come back from a 24-6 run in the second half.
Despite the road loss, Denver was able to improve on scoring as a team following a loss on Jan. 15 to Florida International where Culberson, Murdoch and Rice combined for 59 of the team’s 63 points.
“We have three phenomenal players,” said Johnson last week. “However it is not about those three, we have great contributors all around and we just need to continue to find balanced scoring.”
In the win over ASU, the Pioneers saw eight different players score, as bench players were asked to sub in for Rice, which Johnson said they did admirably.
“Against FIU I got caught up in the game and milked the starters,” said Johnson in last week’s press conference. “I need to rest my players so they are ready to go in key moments and this fact is not lost on me or my staff.”
While the Pioneers continue for conference seeding in the SBC, they will need to continue to find that balance between what Johnson deems the “Big 3” and the rest of the scoring options.
Arkansas Little-Rock has a three-game advantage over Denver at this point for the divisions No. 1 spot, which means the Pioneers must claim the No. 2 in order to gain the coveted bye in the first round of the SBC postseason torunament.
“The difference between a No. 2 and a No. 3 seed is crucial,” said Johnson, “because it determines whether or not we will have to win three or four games in order to get the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.”
The Pioneers will get some rest this week before hosting North Texas on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
