Box Score Quickie Quotes (PDF)
DENVER - Metro State defeated UC-Colorado Springs 68-56 on Friday night behind a 21-4 run in the second half. The win increased the Roadrunners' record to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The loss dropped the Mountain Lions to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC.
Leading the way for the Roadrunners were
Elena Velasquez (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia H.S.) with 17 points. Joining Velasquez in double figures for the Roadrunners were
Amy Nelson (Richmond, Utah/Sky View H.S.) and
Fawn Brady (Grand Junction, Colo./Grand Junction H.S.) with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Tai Jensen (Troy, Idaho/Troy H.S.) led the way with 10 rebounds and Nelson added nine as the Roadrunners won the rebounding battle 41-27.
In the first half, Metro State came out of the gate strong as it led the game 8-0 at the 14:05 mark before UCCS scored its first point of the game. UCCS answered by going on an 11-5 run to cut the Metro State lead to only two points with just under 10 minutes remaining.
From there, both teams battled back and forth and neither team was able to pull away from the other. UCCS took its first lead of the game with 2:18 left in the half. Metro State went into halftime with a 25-24 lead.
Overall for the first half, Metro State shot only 29.6 percent (8-of-27) from the field including 3-for-12 from behind the arc. Meanwhile UCCS shot 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from the field.
In the second half, Metro State was finally able to find its shooting stroke with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game. At the 9:43 mark Metro State trailed 45-43 but answered with a 21-4 run over 7:50 of game time to take a 64-49 lead and take control of the game.
Overall for the game, Metro State shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54) from the field while holding UCCS to only 37.3 percent.
Leading the way for the Mountain Lions was Abby Kirchoff with 19 points and six rebounds.
Metro State will be back in action on Saturday when it hosts Colorado State University at Pueblo at 5 p.m.
