DENVER – Those locker room slogans really do serve to motivate.
 
"There's a saying in our locker room right above us as we walk out that says, 'Whatever it takes,'" MSU Denver forward Allie Navarette said. "And that was kind of our motto for tonight. Maggie (Justinak) fought hard, and we really wanted to get this win for her.
 
"We had some different rotations, different people playing together, and for not having played together, it was really good and I'm glad we pulled off the win."
 
If you had taken a snapshot of the MSU Denver roster after last season, no fewer than five probable starters were not on the floor for the final 2 ½ quarters Thursday night, and yet the Roadrunners still won for the sixth time in seven games, riding 29 points from Navarette and a determined effort across the board for a 68-65 victory over UCCS.
 
"We found a way to win," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "And that's good on your home floor. Down two starters, and we just had to rely on the leadership of Alex (Carlton) and Allie."
 
Two starters were out with injuries coming into the game, then Justinak was forced out in the second quarter. Another expected starter hasn't played all season, and another left the program in the offseason.
 
Of course, it seems certain that the Roadrunners would still have found playing time for Navarette, the senior transfer from Hawaii-Hilo who is NCAA Division II's active leader in career scoring average (18.9 prior to Thursday) and second in career points. She has 1,637 career points now, and is averaging 21.7 points per game this season.
 
"She's just so deceptive," Haave said. "And she's got a really quick first step. And our team did a good job of getting her the ball where she can be successful."
 
Navarette, who pulled down nine rebounds and is averaging 8.5 boards per game, went 13 of 14 at the free throw line, where she is shooting 81.6 percent.
 
"It's all my teammates, them finding me, and my coaches pushing me in practice to seal, to meet the ball, to focus on the little things," Navarette said. "And my teammates got me open shots and open looks."
 
While Navarette's contributions have become the norm – as have those of the steady Carlton (10 points, four assists) and the versatile Kendra Parra (seven points, nine rebounds, four assists) – less expected, but just as welcome, were those of newcomer Brianna Bailey.
 
Bailey played two seasons at NCAA Division III Johnson & Wales, averaging more than 15 points per game, but transferred to MSU Denver after her previous school closed its doors. With the Roadrunners short on depth, she joined the program at the semester break just a few weeks ago.
 
She made her MSU Denver debut Thursday, played 14 solid minutes, hit a late jump shot and made a key defensive play.
 
"Brianna Bailey did a great job of just coming in and doing her job," Haave said. "She was defending, running the offense, she hit a shot and got a stop on defense."
 
Said Navarette: "Her defensive aggressiveness, toughness and hustle plays really helped save us. Coach always says that some of that stuff doesn't show up in the stat sheet. But she definitely carried our team defensively. She stepped it up and was a leader for us, and it was great to have her out there."
 
Bailey's jump shot was part of a 6-0 run that gave MSU Denver a 59-54 lead with 6:59 left.
 
Though the Roadrunners never trailed again, UCCS forged a tie at 63-63 with 2:11 to go. Then Bailey's deflection for a steal led to a Carlton basket and a 65-63 lead with 1:31 to go.
 
UCCS tied it back up, but Navarette made two free throws for a 67-65 edge with 35.9 seconds to play. After the Roadrunners got a stop, Carlton hit 1 of 2 at the foul line with 8.1 seconds left, and a game-tying 3-point try by the Mountain Lions was off target.
 
MSU Denver improved to 7-4 overall and 6-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
Now, after going 6-2 while playing eight straight at home, the Roadrunners' next seven games are on the road.
 
"See you in March," Haave said, laughing. "We would've liked to beat Westminster (a loss at the buzzer), but that was pretty good for our little team. Now we're short-handed. Injuries are starting to get to us. So this will be a good test for us. Good for development for our younger kids, a test to see where we are in terms of mental toughness on the road. Can we handle things on the road?"