Denver- The Metropolitan State University of Denver women's basketball team (5-4, 1-2 RMAC) fell to the Regis Rangers (3-5, 2-1 RMAC) 67-51 at the Auraria Events Center on Friday.
 
The first quarter finished with MSU Denver leading 14 -12. Junior guard Jaelynn Smith (Denver, Colo./East H.S.) got the Roadrunner offense moving by relentlessly driving to the hoop. She got to the free throw line twice, going three-for-four and led the team with three assists in the opening quarter. The Roadrunners outshot the Rangers 30% to 19% from the field.
 
The Rangers came out on fire in the second quarter and went on a 12-4 run in the first five minutes of the quarter. Junior Emily Hartegan (Wylie, Texas/Wylie East H.S.) made a few quick hustle plays to get the Roadrunners back on track. She sunk a transition jumper, got fouled while gathering a rebound, then made both free throws to give MSU Denver some life. Hartegan finished the half with eight points, all of which came in the second quarter, two defensive rebounds and four offensive rebounds, and a perfect four-for-four from the free throw line.
 
Despite the Roadrunners pulling back to within two points, a foul call on a half-court heave gave the Rangers three free-throws with one second left in the half. The half finished with the Rangers leading the Roadrunners 31-26. The Rangers boosted their shooting percentage to 28%, while MSU Denver's percentage dropped to 25%.
 
Regis continued their sharp-shooting to open up the second half; they quickly sparked a 12-4 run in the first five minutes of the third quarter. MSU Denver held the Rangers to six points in the second five minutes of the quarter, but could only score six points of their own and found themselves down 49-38 at the end of the quarter.
 
The Roadrunners battled in the fourth quarter, but couldn't stop the Rangers down the stretch, eventually falling 67-51. Regis shot an impressive 43% from beyond the three-point line and 37% overall. MSU Denver shot 29% from the field, but 91% from the free-throw line.
 
Hartegan finished the game as the top scorer for the Roadrunners with 14 points. Smith led the team with four assists, and senior Georgia Ohrdorf (Wollongong, Australia/St. Mary Star of the Sea College) and Hartegan led the team with eight rebounds each.
 
The Roadrunners return to the Auraria Event Center Saturday, December 9 for a conference matchup with Chadron State College starting at 5 pm.