Box Score DENTON, Texas – MSU Denver used a game-ending 19-4 run to pull away for a season-opening 65-47 victory Friday over Angelo State (Texas) in women's college basketball.
It was coach
Tanya Haave's 200th win as MSU Denver's head coach. She's 200-105 since taking over the Roadrunners' program for the 2010-11 season.
Leading 46-43 in the fourth quarter,
Alex Carlton and
Kendra Parra combined for all the points in a 9-0 burst that allowed the Roadrunners to take a 55-43 lead with 4:21 left.
MSU Denver shot well early in taking a comfortable lead, but saw Angelo State chip into the advantage and even tie the game 35-35 with 2:40 left in the third quarter briefly in the second half.
"We scored pretty much at will to start, but then they picked up their intensity, and it took while to match it," Haave said. "Once we did we were able to pull away."
Carlton hit a free throw to start the late run, then Parra made two more free throws. Parra hit a 3-pointer and Carlton matched her with one of her own to give the Roadrunners their double-digit lead.
"Our guards' toughness was huge," Haave said. "We needed to get a little tougher, playing on the road like this, and those two led the charge."
Carlton scored 15 points, returning Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year
Allie Navarette had 14, and returning RMAC Co-Freshman of the Year Parra had 12 points and nine rebounds to lead the Roadrunners.
"We got some good shots, and Allie hit some shots and had a few that rattled out," Haave said. "But we hung in there and did well enough to win."
Defensively, the Roadrunners held Angelo State to 28.6 percent shooting (17 of 56), though they allowed 11 offensive rebounds.
"We were making people shoot over us and contesting shots," Haave said. "But we probably gave up a few too many offensive rebounds."
MSU Denver plays host Texas Woman's in the second game of the weekend Saturday at 3 p.m.
"I'm happy we were able to pull out a victory," Haave said. "That's a big first step, and tomorrow will be tough playing the home team – and they're really solid. It should be a tougher game for us. We'll learn from this one and come back tomorrow."
