DENVER – After losing back-to-back games to teams in the bottom half of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standing, how did the MSU Denver women's basketball team approach its final game before the holiday break?
 
"Angry, focused … we were ready to play," Roadunners guard Kendra Parra said.
 
Said coach Tanya Haave: "I think it was a quiet, solid focus. We talked a lot about being intentional and purposeful."
 
Said guard Maggie Justinak: "We just knew what we had to do coming into this game. This was a big game for us heading into break. We needed to switch some things up and progress, so our big thing was, 'Attack.' Attack mindset. And I think that got us where we needed to be."
 
Whatever it was, yes, MSU Denver got it just right.
 
The Roadrunners shot 73.1 percent from the field in the first half – the program's best single half of shooting since 2008 – and led 46-16 at the break for its biggest halftime lead since 2015 while running away for an 80-52 victory Saturday over South Dakota Mines.
 
"We might have been putting a little pressure on ourselves, and I may have had the reins on too tight in terms of shot selection," Haave said. "We wanted them to go play today. They know how to play basketball, so go play. Everybody had that attacking mindset."
 
Justinak scored all of her season-high 13 points in the first half – making 5 of 6 from the field including a long 3-pointer just before the buzzer – to lead a 19 of 26 barrage from the field. MSU Denver hadn't shot better than 70 percent in a half since 2014.
 
"I was looking to facilitate any way I could, find open players," Justinak said. "If my shot was there, I knew coach wanted me to shoot it. Scoring has been a little difficult for me the past couple of games, so I was looking to attack more on offense and produce more on defense."
 
Said Haave: Maggie was hot today. And if we can start knocking down some 3s, with the strength of our post players, it's really going to help out."
 
The 46 first-half points were MSU Denver's most since scoring 47 in the first half of the season opener against Regis last year.
 
"We switched our warmup and did more shooting," Parra said. "So I felt like we were a little more ready to go."
 
Said Haave: "We had to look at everything, and that happens when you're losing some games that maybe you shouldn't be, or if aren't playing well. Losing is one thing, but how you're playing is another. We were willing to look at everything."
 
Against a South Dakota Mines team that relies upon 3-point shooting, MSU Denver established early that it would grab the long rebounds that often come with missed 3s and turn them into fast breaks.
 
MSU Denver (6-4 overall, 2-3 RMAC) was credited with 15 fast-break points.
 
"We wanted to have transition offense," Justinak said. "We got our posts down there and we pushed the ball as much as we could. And luckily we had a lot of opportunities to do that."
 
Said Haave: "When they're not hitting shots, it's easier for us to run. On long rebounds, you can get out and run. And that takes some pressure off the halfcourt offense if you can get out and get some easy baskets. We need to make sure that continues."
 
South Dakota Mines, an 0-11 team that nonetheless is still considered a dangerous opponent, helped the cause by shooting just 14.8 percent in the first half as the Roadrunners had their most stifling 20 minutes defensively since Jan. 13, 2018, against New Mexico Highlands.
 
"If we had started off slow, and they feel like they're in the game – that's all it takes," Haave said. "Because they are much better than their record indicates."
 
Allie Navarette chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds, Parra had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Jaela Richardson added 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots, and Mya Jones had 10 points.
 
MSU Denver put five players in double figures scoring for the first time since a 76-67 win over Chadron State on Dec. 21, 2019.
 
"We have that capability," Haave said.
 
Said Justinak: "It just shows we're a team that can play together really well.