GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – NCAA Division II No. 24 and top seed Colorado Mesa held off a determined effort from MSU Denver and earned a 60-46 victory Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
The eighth-seeded Roadrunners, whose season ends at 13-16, were within 38-34 with 2:41 left in the third quarter before Colorado Mesa (24-5) went on a 12-3 run to create some separation, taking a 50-37 lead with 7:38 left.
 
"We defended well, but it ultimately came down to some turnovers and some missed shots," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tanya Haave said.
 
Colorado Mesa, which led the RMAC in field goal percentage defense at 33.9 percent coming into the game, held the Roadrunners to 34.0 percent accuracy.
 
The Mavericks also converted MSU Denver's 16 turnovers into 14 points, while the Roadrunners got just three points on Colorado Mesa's 13 turnovers.
 
"We had some trouble scoring," Haave said. "They have the best defense in the league for a reason, and that's why they are the (regular-season) champions. To try to win on their home floor is a tough ask, but we hung in there. We had a slow start, but after that we picked it up and competed and I'm really happy with that.
 
"For our young core this was a great experience. I'm sorry for our seniors that this is how their season ended, though."
 
Seniors Leya Harvey and Bree Wellington were strong in their final games in Roadrunners uniforms.
 
Harvey had team highs of 12 points and six rebounds, while Wellington had seven points and three rebounds.
 
"Leya was 5 of 6 from the field and played well, made some key shots and got some big rebounds," Haave said. "Bree battled and she was in some foul trouble, but she got some big rebounds and got to the free throw line seven times."
 
Sophomore Morgan Lewis added eight points, while sophomore Jaiden Galloway had seven points, two assists and two steals.
 
"This is something to build on for the future," Haave said. "It was great to be able to play in an atmosphere like this. I don't think we were intimidated, and our players relished being able to play in this atmosphere. And for the kids on the bench, it was a learning experience for them to see that, too.
 
"It was important for us to get to this point, and I really thought we could win the game. But they've been the most consistent team in the league all year and there's a reason why they are where they are."