Denver – The Metropolitan State University of Denver women's basketball team was defeated by Southwest Minnesota State 78-71 on Saturday night at the Auraria Event Center. MSU Denver falls to 2-4 on the season while Southwest Minnesota State moves to 1-5 overall.
The Roadrunners were led in scoring by sophomore
Emily Hartegan (Wylie, Texas/Wylie East H.S.) with 25 points. Hartegan also led the team in rebounding with six. Sophomore
Hannah Stipanovich (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton H.S.) was the only other player for MSU Denver to score in double-figures with 17 points.
The Roadrunners found themselves down early in the game after Southwest Minnesota State used a 9-0 run over a three minute period in the first quarter to go up 11-4. MSU Denver would find itself down 17-10 after the first 15 minutes of play.
MSU Denver would respond in the second quarter outscoring Southwest Minnesota State 21-16. The Roadrunners would be down by as many as 12 in the period before closing the first half out on a 9-0 run of their own sparked by a jumper by Hartegan. MSU Denver trailed 33-31 at the half.
The third quarter saw Southwest Minnesota State extend its lead to eight, 58-50. The Roadrunners would briefly hold a one-point lead after a made three-point basketball by junior
Jenae Paine (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City H.S.), 40-39. Southwest Minnesota State responded with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to make the score 51-40 with 3:01 remaining in the quarter.
The Roadrunners would be able to trim the lead to two with 6:20 to go in the game, but would not be able to get any closer. MSU Denver outscored Southwest Minnestoa State 21-20 in the final period.
MSU Denver was outrebounded in the game 40-28. Southwest Minnesota State shot 57.1 percent from three-point range and 54.2 percent from the field compared the Roadrunners 27.3 percent from three-point range and 43.3 percent from the field.
MSU Denver will open conference play at home on Saturday, Dec. 5 against UCCS. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at the Auraria Event Center.
