PUEBLO, Colo. – MSU Denver improved its postseason positioning with another key victory Saturday night.
 
A late Jonalyn Wittwer (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek) 3-pointer secured the lead in what turned out to be a 74-69 victory over Colorado State University-Pueblo, that put the Roadrunners in sole possession of third place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after winning for the 10^th time in 12 games.
 
"Everything couldn't have gone better for us, both the other scores (from around the RMAC) and the fact that we took care of our business," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "It was a tough win. But we fought and found a way."
 
MSU Denver won at Massari Arena for the first time in five years, dating to a 62-50 triumph on Feb. 28, 2014.
 
"That was great for our seniors," Haave said. "Even (fifth-year senior) Emily Hartegan (Wylie, Texas/Wylie East) hadn't won there."
 
Meanwhile, senior Jaelynn Smith (Denver, Colo./East) continued her takeover of the MSU Denver record books while making a case for RMAC Player of the Year honors.
 
Not only did she have 18 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals, but Smith also became the Roadrunners' all-time single-season assists leader with 162, breaking the record of 160 that had been held since the 1994-95 season by Sarah Eckhoff.
 
Smith, who had 150 last year to rank third on the single-season list, now has 535 for her career, extending another program record she set last month.
 
"I don't think anyone will break records those for a while," Haave said.
 
MSU Denver (15-12 overall, 14-7 RMAC) had been tied with CSU-Pueblo (15-12, 13-8) and Colorado School of Mines in the league standings heading into the night. Mines also lost Saturday.
 
Wittwer's clutch 3 came with 1:52 left, on a baseline inbounds play. Smith found the senior sharpshooter in the corner and she buried the shot that gave the Roadrunners a 72-67 lead. MSU Denver followed up with two defensive stops and held on for the win.
 
MSU Denver compensated for 16 turnovers by having a commanding 17-3 edge in offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points.
 
"That won the game for us," Haave said.
 
Hartegan and Bree Wellington (Fresno, Calif./Buchanan) each had double-doubles – Hartegan had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Wellington added 10 and 10. They combined for 11 offensive rebounds. Hartegan has 11 career double-doubles, six this season, while Wellington has had both of her double-doubles this year.
 
Guard Mariah Scroeder had 11 points off the bench, tying a career high.
 
"She had a great first half, really hit some big shots for us," Haave said.
 
The Roadrunners used a 22-9 run to take a 30-18 second-quarter lead. But the ThunderWolves climbed back into it, twice taking a three-point lead in the third quarter.
 
"They weren't hitting shots early, but they tightened it up and then it was a ball game," Haave said. "But on the road, we battled, we had mental toughness, and we were able to make enough plays to win."