DENVER – MSU Denver emerged from a mid-game shooting slump about a minute too late Friday night, coming up just short in a 61-54 loss to Dixie State.
 
Trailing 54-34 with 6:48 left, the Roadrunners stormed back to get within 59-54 with 18 seconds left.
 
"It was just a bad shooting night," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "We had some good looks, some shots that we normally make, and we didn't knock them down. And I think the frustration on the offensive end started affecting us on the defensive end, and that hadn't happened in a while."
 
The Roadrunners went cold late in the second quarter, going 2 for 12 after having a 19-17 lead with 7:41 to go the half to wind up trailing 28-24 at the break.
 
But freshman sharpshooter Ashley Bernales put on a late-game flourish, scoring a career-high eight points while making 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
 
"I'm really proud that we were down 20 at one point and we managed to get it down to five," Haave said. "Ashley Bernales came in an did a great job."
 
Mariah Schroeder was also immune to the tough shooting night, scoring the Roadrunners' first nine points en route to a career-high 15. Schroeder made 5 of 9 from the field and all five of her free throws.
 
"She was really great," Haave said. "She came out and played really hard."
 
Dixie State improved to 10-4 overall and 5-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, whie MSU Denver dropped to 5-9 and 4-4 heading into Saturday's 4:30 p.m. matchup against NCAA Division II No. 19 (coaches poll) Westminster (12