Box Score DENVER – Leya Harvey moved into the starting lineup Saturday, and it couldn't have gone much better.
 
The 6-foot-1 senior center, playing her only season at MSU Denver after 2 ½ seasons at NCAA Division I Utah Valley, scored nine points in the first 3 minutes, 11 seconds, helping the Roadrunners to an 11-2 lead in what eventually turned into a 76-67 victory over Chadron State.
 
"That was an emphasis, to get it inside early," Harvey said. "And that opens up the outside a little bit more. It was good. My teammates helped me and got me the ball early."
 
The Roadrunners did trail briefly late in the first quarter but otherwise led somewhat comfortably for the rest of the night while improving to 4-7 overall and 3-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
"We felt like we had an advantage inside," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "We kind of got away from that. We lost a little focus offensively, and defensively, at times, but Chadron is an improved team that can hit shots."
 
Harvey, who sat out the second semester last season after transferring to MSU Denver, had been averaging 4.6 points per game in somewhat limited minutes before getting 15 last Saturday off the bench at Western Colorado.
 
She drew the start Saturday, with versatile redshirt freshman Jaela Richardson – an inside and outside threat – moving into a reserve role.
 
"I kind of wanted a different look where we could have more of a traditional post," Haave said. "And I thought Jaela could provide a nice spark off the bench, which is exactly what she did. I liked the look, and I liked the flexibility it gives us."
 
After her early burst, Harvey added a second-quarter low post basket and then hit three fourth-quarter free throws to finish with 14 points and a team-high six rebounds as the Roadrunners secured a share of fifth place in the RMAC.
 
"I feel like I've got my timing back, got the flow back," Harvey said. "I know where I fit on the team now. I'm excited."
 
Once again MSU Denver showed its depth and versatility as, for the second time this season, five players scored in double figures. Another scored nine and yet another had eight.
 
"We've got multiple people who can go inside, and that's fun," Harvey said. "And in the second half you could see we were starting to knock down some 3s."
 
Richardson, Morgan Lewis and Bree Wellington all scored 11 points.
 
Chadron State (3-11, 1-4) stayed in the game by making 11 of 22 from 3-point range.
 
But the Eagles had 18 turnovers to just eight by MSU Denver.
 
Jaiden Galloway and Maggie Justinak, the Roadrunners' primary ballhandlers, combined for 13 assists and only one turnover.

"They took great care of the ball and they ran the team really well," Haave said. "That was great to see."
 
Galloway had 10 points, seven assists and matched a career-best with six steals. Justinak had nine points and six assists. Mariah Schroeder scored eight.
 
"Going into Christmas break, this win is going to give us some momentum," Harvey said. "We'll enjoy a couple of days off, but it's going to give us that drive to come back. Right now we're just excited for Christmas."
 
MSU Denver is off until Jan. 3 and 4, when it hits the road for games at Fort Lewis and Adams State.
 
"It's good to be home, good to get a win going into the break," Haave said. "Then we've got another tough road trip coming up."