DENVER – Sometimes you've got to win ugly.

And to win ugly, you've got to crash the boards.

Morgan Lewis considered it her duty to do so against UCCS on Friday evening, collecting a career-high 14 rebounds to go with 10 points for her second double-double of the season as the Metropolitan State University of Denver women's basketball team beat the Mountain Lions 57-49 at the Auraria Event Center.

"Whenever I get to play post, I take advantage of the opportunity," Lewis said. "I really enjoy getting those rebounds."

Lewis played 32 minutes of gritty basketball as MSU Denver (10-12, 9-7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) grabbed a key late-season conference victory. The Roadrunners exhibited a strong defensive effort against the Mountain Lions, holding UCCS (6-16, 5-11 RMAC) to 12 points below its season scoring average and 30.6% shooting from the field.

"We grinded it out," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "We hung on and just battled through."

MSU Denver escaped an evenly contested first half with a 31-30 advantage. UCCS had jumped out to a five-point lead early in the second quarter, but a quick 7-2 run from the Roadrunners tied things up at 24. Maggie Justinak was a key player for MSU Denver in the first half, scoring all 10 of her points in the opening 20 minutes.

MSU Denver finally broke away from UCCS midway through the third quarter, outscoring the Mountain Lions 10-4 in the final six minutes of the period. Bree Wellington scored eight of her 10 points in the third to help MSU Denver jump out in front, 45-38.

UCCS clawed back within two at 47-45 with 6:08 remaining, but Mariah Schroeder put the visitors' hopes of a comeback to rest with a quick 3-pointer to start a 10-0 run for MSU Denver. Lewis capped the run on a layup with 2:28 remaining, giving the Roadrunners their biggest lead of the contest at 57-45 and sealing the eventual victory.

Lewis captained a true team effort in the win, as she was one of five Roadrunners to score at least eight points. Five of her 14 rebounds came on the offensive glass. She also had three steals in the game.

"She's pretty comfortable (in the post)," Haave said. "That's where she played all high school. Her versatility really helps us."

Jaiden Galloway chipped in nine points and three assists for the Roadrunners, while Leya Harvey had eight points, four boards and three steals.

MSU Denver shot 42.3% (22 of 52) in the game and 33.3% (6 of 18) from 3-point land, holding UCCS to 21.4% (3 of 14) from long range. The Roadrunners outrebounded the Mountain Lions, 37-36.

"It wasn't pretty, but a win this time of year is good," Haave said. "Any win at this point is good."

MSU Denver returns to the Auraria Event Center Saturday night to face Colorado School of Mines. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. MST.