RAPID CITY, S.D. – Allie Navarette led a balanced scoring effort with 13 points and MSU Denver held off scrappy South Dakota Mines for a 63-51 victory Thursday night in women's college basketball.
 
MSU Denver won its fourth straight, and for the 12^th time in its last 13 games, to improve to 17-5 overall and 13-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

"It was a great team win in a gym that is always difficult to play in," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "We showed some toughness and resiliency, especially since they were able to tie the game at the end of the third quarter and had momentum going into the fourth."
 
MSU Denver overcame an early 7-2 deficit to lead 14-10 at the end of the first quarter, built a 23-12 second quarter lead and held a 28-21 advantage at halftime.
 
But, after building two more nine-point leads in the third quarter, MSU Denver saw South Dakota Mines tie the game 40-40 with a 3-pointer just before the third-quarter buzzer.
 
MSU Denver outscored the Hardrockers 23-11 in the fourth quarter.
 
Maggie Justinak hit a 3 early in the fourth quarter, and the Roadrunners stayed in front the rest of the way.
 
"We kept our composure and we were able to execute both offensively and defensively in the fourth quarter," Haave said.
 
In addition to her 13 points, Navarette also pulled down nine rebounds, putting her two rebounds away from becoming the 37^th player in NCAA Division II women's basketball history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
 
Morgan Griego added 12 points, while Justinak scored 11.
 
"Maggie Justinak gave us a huge lift off the bench," Haave said. "Our depth continues to help us in every game."
 
Kendra Parra scored nine points and Tosjanae Bonds once again played shutdown defense while getting eight points and three steals.
 
MSU Denver, tied for fourth in the RMAC standings, plays again Tuesday at third-place Westminster.