DENVER – MSU Denver has played Westminster twice in women's basketball this season and both times was in position to win the game.
 
Ultimately, though, wayward shooting has been the difference.
 
The Roadrunners will get a third chance to straighten things out as they travel to Westminster for a first-round game in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
 
"We were just there (on Feb. 15)," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "They know us, and we know them. We need to take care of the ball a little better and finish better. And, after watching and rewatching film, we've had shots that didn't fall against them. If we can get some shots to fall, that will be key."
 
The sixth-seeded Roadrunners (19-8 overall, 15-7 RMAC) had their worst shooting game of the season in a 62-48 home loss to Westminster on Dec. 4, connecting on just 32.2 percent (19 of 59). The shooting was slightly better in the 66-54 loss on Feb. 15 in Salt Lake City, but at 36.8 percent (21 of 59) it was still the team's fourth-lowest accuracy all season.
 
MSU Denver made just 2 of 17 from 3-point range for a season-worst 11.8 percent in the first meeting before making 5 of 17 for 29.4 percent in the second matchup.
 
Despite the rough numbers, MSU Denver had an 11-point lead at 33-22 early in the second half of the first game, held the lead going into the fourth quarter and was tied with six minutes left before fading. The second time around, MSU Denver led for most of the first half before losing contact early in the third period.
 
Westminster, seeded third, is 17-8 overall and went 16-5 in RMAC play.
 
"It's a balanced, solid team, but we've played them close," Haave said. "We have to limit our turnovers and limit their scorers. You can't necessarily stop them, but you can limit them. And then, it's turnovers. We drill it and emphasize it, and now we've got to connect it and transfer it that from practice and the film room to the floor."
 
MSU Denver was fourth in the initial regional rankings that are used to help determine the field for the South Central Regional Tournament, but dropped to ninth on last week's list after losing twice, and then suffered a Saturday loss at Black Hills State.
 
The Roadrunners have lost three of five, but have the talent to turn it around.
 
"We're still playing, and we've still got a chance (to reach the NCAA Tournament), so this is great," Haave said. "It's the postseason.
 
"We're trying to get back to playing the way we know we can."