GUNNISON, Colo. – Kendra Parra matched a career high with 26 points and MSU Denver grabbed 21 offensive rebounds to give itself a chance, but the Roadrunners came up just short Friday in a season-opening 80-75 loss to Angelo State (Texas) in women's college basketball.
"We're disappointed we couldn't pull it out, but we saw a lot of bright spots," MSU Denver coach
Tanya Haave said. "We just need to clean some things up. We had some untimely turnovers and fouls and some problems with execution, and ultimately that hurt us.
"To shoot 32 percent and have 20 turnovers and even be in that game – that's pretty good."
Parra made 8 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and hit 9 of 11 free throws.
The Roadrunners trailed by as many as 13 points, at 52-39 late in the third quarter, before rallying. Parra completed a four-point play to tie the game 72-72 with 2:19 left.
Parra had 22 points in the second half – 13 in the third quarter and nine in the fourth. That matched the most points in a half for a Roadrunner since Jonalyn Wittwer scored 24 second-half points against New Mexico Highlands on Jan. 19, 2019.
"Kendra was amazing," Haave said. "She's such a competitor. She just got to a point where she didn't care about anything and went out and competed."
Leilah Vigil had 12 points and eight rebounds and
Jaiden Galloway had seven points, four assists and three steals for the Roadrunners.
In their collegiate debuts, true freshmen Brianna Sealy (six points and 11 rebounds) and Lara Asgeirsdottir (seven points) also turned in solid efforts.
"Brianna has only been practicing for a couple of weeks but she played well," Haave said. "And Lara is another freshman who we are asking a lot from. It was a great experience for both of them."
MSU Denver plays again Saturday at 5 p.m. against Texas Woman's, in a rematch of last year's first-round NCAA Tournament game.
