DENVER – Jaelynn Smith (Denver, Colo./East) was a one-player destruction crew Saturday night, but despite her heroics, MSU Denver was unable to finish off an incredible comeback.
 
Metropolitan State University of Denver fell behind Colorado Mesa 20-4 after the first quarter and 32-12 early in the second period, but behind Smith's career-high 36 points, the Roadrunners actually led briefly in the fourth quarter before suffering a 68-63 defeat.
 
"She just took it upon herself to score," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "She was the only one we were able to get consistent scoring from. It was on her back that we made that comeback."
 
Smith was practically unstoppable on her drives to the basket, particularly in the final two quarters when she scored a program-record 29 points in a half.
 
Smith was 10 for 14 from the field, including making both of her 3-point attempts, and she also made a career-high 14 free throws on 17 attempts, also a career high. Averaging 26.5 points over the Roadrunners' last four games, she had scored a career-high 29 points in MSU Denver's last game.
 
The 36 points are the most by Roadrunners player since at least the 2001-02 season, and approached the school record of 41 points that Stephanie Allen scored against Winona State on Jan. 3, 1998.
 
"They were playing aggressive defense, and in order to match it we had to come that much harder," Smith said. "That's all that was."
 
Smith's layup tied the game 59-59 with 3:11 to go, and then she hit two free throws with 2:26 to play to give the Roadrunners their first lead of the game at 61-59.
 
Smith set up Emily Hartegan (Wylie, Texas/Wylie East) for a basket that gave MSU Denver its last lead, 63-62, with 1:38 left, but Colorado Mesa (7-1 overall, 4-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) got a three-point play by Sydni Brandon to move back in front and held off the Roadrunners (3-6, 2-2), who had two turnovers, an off-balance, off-target 3-pointer and also gave up an offensive rebound down the stretch.
 
"It's frustrating that it's taking too long for us to realize what's happening (early in games)," Smith said. "A quicker response would be ideal, just because when we've found ourselves in this spot, it's ultimately led to an 'L.'
 
"To know that we can come back, it's good to know the effort is there. I just wish it would come before we got so far down."
 
Colorado Mesa's Jaylyn Duran, averaging 22.3 points per game, had 23 in the first half alone, but was held to seven points in the second half. The Mavericks made 11 of 27 from 3-point range, after connecting on 6 of 15 in the first half.
 
"They came out hot and really intense, and I don't think we were ready for it," Haave said. "I was pleased we were able to weather the storm and come back. But the start was disappointing."