Box Score NAMPA, Idaho - No. 24 Metro State was unable to hold on to a 1-point lead with three minutes left as host Northwest Nazarene held off the Roadrunners 55-54 on Saturday evening at the Fairfield Inn Classic in Nampa, Idaho. The loss dropped MSU to 2-3 overall, while NNU improved to 5-0.

In a defensive game from the start, Metro State led just 31-30 at halftime. Neither team led by more than seven points at any point in the game.

MSU built its largest lead of the game at 35-30 after Amy Nelson (Richmond, Utah/Sky View H.S.) and Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) opened the second half with made baskets.

The Crusaders led by four points with 10 minutes left in the game, but an excellent defensive effort by Metro held them to just two field goals in the final 10 minutes. However, with 2:41 left, Megan Hingston put NNU up for good at 53-52 with the second of those two baskets as the Roadrunners also had trouble scoring.

MSU had several opportunities to tie or take the lead after the go-ahead basket. Nelson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 2:07 left. After Hingston hit two free throws to put the Crusaders up 55-52, Emily Wood (Louisville, Colo./Monarch H.S.) was whistled for an offensive foul. Nelson pulled down the rebound on NNU's next possession as the Roadrunners got a stop on defense and Valencia cut the deficit to one by hitting two free throws with 1:00 left.

But an offensive rebound helped NNU trim the clock down and the Roadrunners did not regain possession until seven seconds were left. Valencia's desperation shot at the buzzer missed to end the game.

Valencia scored a season-high 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Cassie Lambrecht (Colorado Springs/Golden H.S.) enjoyed her second consecutive excellent offensive performance, burying all four of her 3-point attempts and scoring 15 points with five assists. Jenessa Burke (Aurora, Colo./Highlands Ranch H.S.) had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in just nine minutes off the bench.

Nelson led MSU with nine rebounds.

Hingston led all scorers with 19 points.

Metro State opens Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Saturday against Regis University.