Box Score
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GOLDEN, Colo. - The Metro State women's basketball team fell 61-58 in overtime at Colorado Mines on Saturday night. The loss dropped the Roadrunners to 12-11 overall and 7-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while CSM improved to 16-7 overall and 10-5 in the RMAC.
With the men's team's loss on Saturday as well, it was the first 0-4 weekend for the men's and women's basketball teams at Metro State since Nov. 23-24, 2001, in non-conference action. The last time the two teams went 0-4 in conference games was Jan. 26-27, 2001, at Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.
It was the first overtime game for Metro State since defeating Western State 56-48 on Jan. 5, 2008, and the first overtime loss since falling 79-69 to Regis on Jan. 24, 2006.
Metro State was plagued by one of its poorest offensive halves of play in recent years as it shot just 19.2 percent in the second half and 0-of-7 in the overtime period, combining to make just 5-of-33 (15.1 percent) of its shots after halftime. The last time the Roadrunners shot under 20 percent in a half was on Nov. 28, 2008 against Quincy (Ill.).
For the game, the Roadrunners shot 26.7 percent.
Things went well in the first half for Metro State as it shot 40.7 percent and held a 35-28 lead at the break. The Roadrunners also made 10-of-12 at the free throw line.
The lead was quickly taken away by the Orediggers as they opened the second half on a 12-2 run, taking a 40-37 lead six minutes into the half.
CSM held a four-point lead at 50-46 with less than three minutes left, but
Brandi Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) buried a pair of free throws to cut the lead in half. Following a shot clock violation on Mines,
Jasmine Cervantes (Johnstown, Colo./Berthoud H.S.) hit a fadeaway from just outside the left block to tie the game with 1:31 left. Her layup on the next possession put the Roadrunners in front 52-50 with 1:10 left. Unfortunately, that was the final field goal for Metro State in the game.
The Roadrunners had two opportunities to win the game in the final seconds after a layup by Brecca Gaffney tied the game with 34 seconds left. Cervantes and
Leandra Sands (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Wilson H.S.) both drew contact as they went in for layups in the final 13 seconds, but no foul was called either time and both shots missed, sending the game to overtime.
The overtime period was defined by free throws and the Roadrunners took their free throw struggles from the second half into OT. Metro State shot just 7-of-12 at the free throw line in the second half and the overtime period was not much better as it made 6-of-10. CSM made 6-of-7 in the second half and 7-of-8 in overtime.
Stephanie Fogle put CSM ahead with a long jumper from just inside the 3-point line on the Orediggers' first possession. Valencia tied the game nearly two minutes into the overtime period with two free throws.
Chelsea Williamson (Boulder, Colo./Boulder H.S.) made 1-of-2 at the line to put Metro State in front 55-54, but two free throws from Angie Charchalis quickly gave CSM the lead right back with two minutes left in OT. However, Cervantes answered with two free throws of her own on the ensuing possession. Gaffney then hit 1-of-2 to tie the game.
Fouls continued to be whistled on the next two possessions for each team. Cervantes put the Roadrunners in front with 1-of-2 with 1:23 remaining, but Gaffney put the Orediggers in front for good with two with 56 seconds left.
Metro State had numerous opportunities on its next possession, grabbing three offensive rebounds.
Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) finally got to the line after the three missed shots, but could not convert either of her attempts leaving CSM ahead. Gaffney sunk two free throws with six seconds left to put Mines up by three and Emily Dalton came away with a steal for the Orediggers in the final seconds to seal the game.
Williamson and Cervantes led Metro State with 14 points each, though the two combined to hit just 9-of-32 from the floor. Williamson did make 5-of-6 at the line.
Brandi Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) poured in 10 points, hitting 8-of-8 at the line, but the field goal woes could not escape her either, as she made just 1-of-10 from the floor.
Emily Wood (Louisville, Colo./Monarch H.S.), making her second career start, scored a career-high nine points.
Gaffney led CSM with 20 points and 10 rebounds, making 10-of-12 at the line. Charchalis added 18 points.
Metro State forced a season-high 28 turnovers and turned the ball over just 16 times. The 28 turnovers by CSM were the most for a Metro State opponent since forcing 30 against Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 23, 2007.
The Roadrunners will look to get back to the .500 mark in conference play on Friday when they host Chadron State at 5 p.m. It is Metro State's
Pink Zone night in support of breast cancer awareness. All fans wearing pink will receive free admission to the game.