Box Score DENVER – Season resumed.
 
When we last saw the MSU Denver women's basketball team, the plucky Roadrunners were playing without two starters and winning closely-contested games at home and away.
 
Tuesday, in their first game in 18 days, the Roadrunners played without two starters in a game that was sort of at home (in Denver) but definitely away (at Regis).
 
And Allie Navarette continued her dominant campaign with a season-high 33 points – one short of the highest total in her illustrious career – as MSU Denver pulled away in the closing minutes for a 69-55 victory.
 
"I'm so proud of this group," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "The way they practice, their attitude, their energy and enthusiasm, the way they stick together … and they put it on the floor tonight."
 
After leading by as many as nine points in the first half, and by 15 – at 43-28 – midway through the third quarter, the Roadrunners had to hold off a Regis rally. The Rangers twice got within three points in the fourth quarter, the last time at 54-51 with 5:01 to play.
 
MSU Denver outscored them 15-4 the rest of the way.
 
"We really just weathered the storm," Haave said. "We hit some shots and got some stops. And we did that against a team that's been playing really good basketball. To be able to do that, on their home floor, I'm so happy for our team and so proud of them."
 
Navarette controlled the first half, scoring 22 of MSU Denver's points as the Roadrunners took a 33-26 lead.
 
Though held to 11 in the second half, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's leading scorer finished the night 14 for 26 from the field while making 2 of 5 from 3-point range and all three of her free throws. Oh, and she also had 12 rebounds and two steals.
 
"We got her the ball in some good spots to score, and she hit them," Haave said. "They focused more on her in the second half, but teams are backing off her to defend against the drive and now she's hitting her jump shot. That makes her practically unstoppable. She's been staying after practice and working on her jumper and it's paying off."
 
Freshman Tosjanae Bonds got her first career start and responded with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal while playing solid defense against one of the RMAC's better point guards in Tashika Burrell.
 
And point guard Alex Carlton played all 40 minutes and had nine points, five rebounds, six assists and no turnovers.
 
"Tosjanae just did a great job, and Alex had such a great floor game," Haave said. "Everyone who went in there just did the job."
 
MSU Denver had only eight players in uniform.
 
The Roadrunners are now 8-2 in their last 10 games to improve to 9-5 overall and 8-4 in the RMAC. In the top-heavy RMAC, that's good only for sixth place, but the win also seems to make the Roadrunners' chances of securing a spot in the eight-team RMAC Tournament much better.
 
And, the way this team is rolling, who knows what might happen there?
 
"This team just shows that when you stick together and play for each other, good things happen," Haave said.