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DENVER, Colo. - Rae Bean (Lakewood, Colo./Bear Creek H.S.) scored 20 points to lead Metro State to a 57-53 victory over Eastern New Mexico on Friday at the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic in Denver.  It was the first home game for the Roadrunners and improved them to 2-1 this season, while ENMU fell to 0-4.  It was also Bean's first game of the season.

Metro State finished the game on a 7-2 run over the final two minutes to rally for the win.

The Roadrunners opened the game with a 9-2 lead as they hit three of their first four shots.  But Metro State went cold and the Zias fought back to tie the game at 16-16.  However, the Roadrunners built a five-point, 28-23 halftime lead, despite shooting just 34.4 (11-for-32) percent in the first half.  A strong defensive effort held ENMU to just 29.2 (7-for-24) percent shooting.

Metro State stretched its lead to nine just three minutes into the second half at 32-23 after a basket by Chelsea Williamson (Boulder, Colo./Boulder H.S.) and single free throws from Erin Doherty (Denver, Colo./Bishop Machebeuf H.S.) and Bean.  The Zias battled back again and Metro State led just 44-40 with 8:21 left after Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) hit 1-of-2 at the line.

ENMU then went on a 6-0 run to take a 46-44 lead with 6:20 remaining.  The score went back-and-forth over the next four minutes.  The Zias took their final lead of the game at 51-50 with 2:04 remaining in regulation on a layup by Skylar Fugitt.

Bean put the Roadrunners back in front with a three-point play with 1:20 left to make the score 53-51.  Metro State held ENMU scoreless on a pair of offensive possessions and Leandra Sands (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Wilson H.S.) was fouled after the Roadrunners forced a turnover with 15 seconds left.  Sands hit both free throws, but Tori Northcutt drove the length of the floor for a quick layup with nine seconds left, leaving the Roadrunners up 55-53.  Williamson hit a pair of free throws with six seconds left to ice the game.

Bean shot just 6-of-17 from the floor, but hit 8-of-11 at the line and grabbed seven rebounds.  Williamson had 12 points and hit 4-of-4 from the line.  Jasmine Cervantes (Johnstown, Colo./Berthoud H.S.) scored 11 points off the bench.  Erin Doherty (Denver, Colo./Bishop Machebeuf H.S.), making the first start of her career, scored eight points, hitting 3-for-5 from the floor, and had four rebounds and two assists.

Metro State shot just 31.5 (17-for-54) percent from the field for the game, but forced 20 turnovers and held a 40-38 rebounding advantage.

Metro State will face Northwest Missouri State at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Auraria Event Center.