DENVER – MSU Denver dug its way out after a slow start, but the Roadrunners couldn't do it twice.
 
The Roadrunners scored the final seven points of the first half and the first five points of the second half to turn a 21-10 deficit into a 22-21 lead, but Minnesota State-Moorhead roared back with a 26-point third quarter and cruised to a 62-41 victory Friday night in women's basketball.
 
"We just didn't come out with the intensity that we needed at the beginning of the game," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "It seemed like we thought we were going to be on our home floor and that was going to be all that we needed. We've got to approach games differently."
 
"I thought we might have turned the corner early in the second half."
 
The Roadrunners' players shouldered some of the responsibility for the disappointing turn of events in the Holiday Inn Denver Cherry Creek Classic at the Auraria Event Center.
 
"We didn't come ready to play, so the end result is that we took an 'L,'" point guard Jaelynn Smith (Denver, Colo./East) said. "We've got to come ready to play."
 
Smith did what she could with a strong performance that included 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
She was unstoppable late in the first half driving to the basket and finishing during a rally that started with the Roadrunners trailing 21-10. Meanwhile, some full-court pressure from MSU Denver seemed to shake the Roadrunners from their slumber and get Minnesota State-Moorhead out of its comfort zone.
 
Then, to start the second half, Jonalyn Wittwer (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek) hit a 3-pointer off a set play and Mikayla Gonzales (Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View) scored on a drive and suddenly the Roadrunners led 22-21.
 
But the Dragons (3-2), who are receiving votes in the national top 25 poll, weathered the storm and shot 52.4 percent (11 of 21) from the field in the third quarter to build a 47-26 lead.
 
Bothered by Minnesota State-Moorhead's length and height inside, MSU Denver shot just 30.8 percent from the field for the game, made only 7 of 19 free throws (36.8 percent) and connected on only 2 of 12 from 3-point range (Wittwer was 2 for 5).
 
"They were keying on Joni (Wittwer) and Emily (Hartegan), but I think we lost patience and panicked a little bit on the offensive end," Haave said. "And then I thought our offense affected the way we played defense.
 
"It was just a bad night all around offensively."
 
Kiley Borowicz led Minnesota State-Moorhead with 14 points. And Peyton Boom was dynamite with 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Dragons are coming off a 23-6, NCAA-tournament season and are picked to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
 
But that doesn't make falling to 0-4 for the first time since 2008-09 any easier for a Roadrunners team this is coming off a 23-9, NCAA-tournament season and who are picked to finish second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
They'll try to get that elusive first win in Saturday's 3 p.m. home game with Winona State (Minn.) to wrap up the Holiday Inn Denver Cherry Creek Classic. Winona State (2-1) won 66-58 Friday night against Colorado Christian.
 
"We have to come out with an attitude, a mindset, of intensity and focus," Haave said.