Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. - No. 7 Metro State escaped New Mexico Highlands with a 63-60 victory on Saturday night to clinch a share of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season championship. The Roadrunners rallied from a three-point deficit with 3:53 remaining.

It is Metro State's second straight RMAC title.

Metro improved to 23-2 overall and 19-2 in the RMAC, while NMHU fell to 12-13 overall and 8-13 in the RMAC. The Roadrunners have now won 14 consecutive games against Highlands.

The game featured 20 ties and 11 lead changes and the Roadrunners never led by more than three points.

Jenessa Burke (Aurora, Colo./Highlands Ranch H.S.) scored a game-high 17 points off the bench, including 15 in the second half. Caley Dow (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe H.S.) scored 16 points and had eight rebounds, making 10-of-14 at the line, the most free throws for a Metro State player this season. Emily Wood (Louisville, Colo./Monarch H.S.) added 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and Jasmine Cervantes (Johnstown, Colo./Berthoud H.S.) had nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

The Roadrunners suffered through a sloppy first half, committing 10 turnovers. After forcing just three turnovers, they trailed 33-28 at the break.

An 11-2 run midway through the second half gave Metro a 51-49 lead with 7:02 as Burke got going with six points and an assist during the run.

But the Cowgirls scored the next five points to take the lead right back.

Burke answered the Cowgirls run with a free throw and a layup on the next two possessions to even the score at 54-54 with 4:57 left.

Burke hit a runner in the lane off the glass with 1:16 remaining to give the Roadrunners a 58-57 lead. Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) blocked a shot on the ensuing Cowgirls possession and was fouled after controlling the rebound. She hit both free throws to push the lead to 60-57 with 45 seconds to go.

Following a timeout, Alyssa Lopez hit two free throws for Highlands with 33 seconds left after drawing a foul.

Dow was immediately fouled on the inbounds, but missed both free throws. However, Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) knocked the rebound of the second miss off a Highlands player as the Roadrunners maintained possession. Burke drew a foul and hit the first, but missed the second with 30 seconds left.

Lopez again drew a foul on the next Cowgirls possession and hit 1-of-2 at the line with 24.5 seconds to go, cutting the lead to 61-60. NMHU retained possession, forcing a jump ball on the rebound off the miss of the second attempt.

After a missed 3-pointer by Highlands, Dow hit two free throws with four seconds left to seal the win.

Metro State committed just three turnovers in the second half to finish with 13 for the game. The Roadrunners also outrebounded Highlands 44-34 to help overcome a poor shooting night (38.5 percent).

Lopez led the Cowgirls with 17 points by making 9-of-11 at the line to match Burke's game-high total.

Metro will wrap up the regular season at home on Saturday, Feb. 25 against Regis University at 5 p.m.