SPEARFISH, S.D. – Playing without multiple starters and on the road against one of the better teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, MSU Denver couldn't pull off a surprise victory Friday night.
 
But, wow, were they close.
 
In a valiant effort, the Roadrunners pushed Black Hills State to the end before falling 69-61.
 
"I do think this can be great experience for our team, and we talked about that," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "I'm really proud of the way they fought and battled the whole game. We never gave up, and that was important."
 
Allie Navarette had 21 points and seven rebounds and Alex Carlton had 12 points while making 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Those two and Kendra Parra were the only Roadrunners' starters in the lineup Friday.
 
And, depending upon which point you look at the Roadrunners' roster over the last 10 months, a case could be made that they played without three, or four, or even five, projected starters.
 
The scrappy play and all-out hustle of freshman guard Tosjanae Bonds was emblematic of the Roadrunners' effort Friday. Bonds had seven points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals and was seemingly everywhere on the floor.
 
"That second half, we tried to turn defense into offense, and she did a great job of giving us some defense and some energy and some fight," Haave said. "It was really great to see that."
 
Trailing for most of the game, MSU Denver was never far out of it.
 
And, after falling behind 46-37 in the third quarter, the Roadrunners went on a 7-0 run to close within 46-44.
 
It was game on.
 
But Black Hills State (8-4 both overall and in the RMAC) got some more separation and the Roadrunners couldn't quite make a comeback. The Yellow Jackets' biggest lead was 10 points in the fourth quarter, but MSU Denver (7-5, 6-4) still got within 62-58 on Carlton's 3 with 1:24 left.
 
But the Yellow Jackets wouldn't cooperate in MSU Denver's comeback bid, making 7 of 10 free throws down the stretch and 21 of 25 for the game.
 
MSU Denver had 23 turnovers, which Black Hills State converted into 22 points.
 
"That's where you really miss a senior guard and a junior post player," Haave said.
 
How thin were the Roadrunners?
 
Well, Brianna Bailey, who transferred to MSU Denver after starring for two seasons at Division III Johnson & Wales closed its doors and but only walked-on to the Roadrunners' program at the semester break, got the start and played her second career game.
 
She showed well, as expected, hitting an early 3-pointer while just missing on several other long-range misses in her 20 minutes of action
 
Another mid-season addition, Peyton Taylor, also played well in 20 minutes off the bench.
 
"Both of them played well," Haave said.
 
MSU Denver suited up nine players, with eight playing.
 
The Roadrunners are back at it Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against Chadron State (0-7, 0-7).
 
"We're hoping to get a split on the road this weekend," Haave said. "But Chadron is a tough place to play."