DENVER – The learning curve continues for the MSU Denver women's basketball team.
 
Facing one of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's best teams in Black Hills State, the Roadrunners gave up 28 first-quarter points Friday night before playing the Yellow Jackets within six points the rest of the way in a 74-56 defeat at the Auraria Event Center.
 
"You saw a young team that is still learning together playing a team that has played together for a while and is solid at every position," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "As coaches we've got to do a better job of preparing our players. That's my responsibility."
 
MSU Denver dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, but its losses have come against teams that are a combined 38-12. Black Hills state improved to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the RMAC.
 
"You never like to have games like this, but this will be a game where we can go back and learn a lot from it," Haave said. "Give credit to Black Hills. I thought they would be one of the best teams in the conference this year, and I still think they are."
 
Kendra Parra led the Roadrunners with 13 points and three assists. Parra averaged 21.5 points per game against six non-conference opponents, but has been limited to 12.0 per game in three games of league play.
 
"That's a really good defensive team, and she's still pressing a little bit," Haave said. "We've got to do a better job of finding some shots for her, because she's getting frustrated. And we just have to execute better."
 
True freshman Mikylah Espinosa broke through in her third game as a Roadrunner, with nine points, three assists and an impressive five steals.
 
"She's got really great instincts, and she gave us a bit of a spark defensively," Haave said. "She was able to get to the rim and hit some shots. I'm really pleased for her. She can do some good things for us."
 
Said Espinosa: "I'm starting to get used to it and I'm starting to get better."
 
Jaiden Galloway added nine points, and Miza Gilberto plucked a career-best 10 rebounds.
 
The Roadrunners are back in action Saturday with a 4 p.m. home game against South Dakota Mines (1-8, 1-2).
 
"We just want to start off stronger and make better offensively plays, and if we do I think we've got it," Espinosa said.