RAPID CITY, S.D. – MSU Denver upped its winning streak to a season-high five games on Friday night, cruising to a 70-38 victory over South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
 
No Roadrunners player scored more than 11 points, but all 10 players on the active roster scored at least three. Meanwhile the defense kept an opponent under 40 points for the second time this season. During the winning streak, the Roadunners have won three games by at least 31 points.
 
MSU Denver jumped out to a 30-18 halftime lead, then ran away with things in the third quarter by outscoring the Hardrockers 20-7 to take a 50-25 lead into the final period.
 
"We started a little slow in the first half, but I think we played with good tempo on both ends, and I think that might have caught up to them in the second half," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "I'm really happy with how we approached the game. This has typically been a tough place for us to play, but we came out focused on what we needed to do. It was good to see that to start this road trip."
 
Emily Hartegan (Wylie, Texas/Wylie East) had 11 points and eight rebounds for the Roadrunners (10-10 overall, 9-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) after missing both games last weekend, while Mariah Schroeder (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) scored a career-high 11 points off the bench.
 
"It was awesome to have Emily back," Haave said. "Her presence, energy, enthusiasm and experience are so big for us. And Mariah did a great job. She's doing a nice job on the defensive end."
 
The victory, combined with a loss by Colorado State University-Pueblo, allowed the Roadrunners to move into a three-way tie for third place in the RMAC with both CSU-Pueblo and Western State Colorado.
 
MSU Denver plays Saturday at 4 p.m. against Black Hills State (12-6, 8-6) in a key road game.
 
"It's going to be a tough game," Haave said. "They are physical, they defend well, and they're on their home floor. We'll have to be ready to go, with mental toughness and being ready to battle. It's a big game."
 
Against South Dakota Mines (6-12, 3-11), the Roadrunners shot a season-best 51.7 percent from the field, making 30 of 58 shots.
 
They forced 21 turnovers, one off a season high, for a 26-6 advantage in points off turnovers. MSU Denver had 13 steals, including a career-best three by Morgan Lewis (Pagosa Springs, Colo./Pagosa Springs), who scored nine points in only 10 minutes while making 4 of 5 from the field.
 
Jaelynn Smith (Denver, Colo./East) had five points, two rebounds, a team-high five assists and two steals.
 
MSU Denver's win streak is its longest since winning nine in a row late last season.
 
"We've hit some adversity this year, but we've been able to bust through it," Haave said.