COLORADO SPRINGS - Metropolitan State University of Denver had five players score in double figures to beat Montana Tech 79-75 on Saturday in Colorado Springs. The Roadrunners improved to 3-1 this season, while MT dropped to 5-4.
 
Deni Jacobs (Plains, Kan./Southwestern Heights H.S.), Jenae Paine (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City H.S.), Emily Hartegan (Frisco, Texas/Wylie East H.S.) and Brittany Curl (Absarokee, Mont./Absarokee H.S.) each scored 14 points and Georgia Ohrdorf (Wollongong, Australia/St. Mary Star of the Sea College) had 10 in a balanced night offensively. Ohrdorf and Curl led the team with seven rebounds each. Erin McClarie (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Rock Canyon H.S.) added seven points and six rebounds.
 
MSU Denver shot 46 percent, while holding the Orediggers to 38 percent in the game.
 
Hartegan scored 12 first-half points to lead the Roadrunners to a 38-31 lead at the break. An early 9-0 run helped MSU Denver jump out to a 13-7 lead in the game.
 
The Roadrunners led the entire second half, but MT cut the lead to two at one point. However, MSU Denver responded with eight straight points to lead 63-53 with nine minutes to go. The Orediggers battled back to get within 72-70 at the 1:09 mark.
 
Jacobs answered with a layup and McClarie sunk 1-of-2 free throws to put the Roadrunners in front 75-70 with 41 seconds left.
 
After Ohrdorf sunk a pair of free throws with 21 seconds to go, MT came down and buried a 3-pointer to get within two points again. Paine iced the game with two free throws in the final 10 seconds.
 
MSU Denver will host Regis University to open conference play on Saturday at 5 p.m.