CANYON, Texas – Of course it went overtime.
MSU Denver played Texas Woman's on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional, and – just like when the teams played a three-overtime game in November – this one required an extra session.
But MSU Denver, which fought gamely and eventually took its first lead since the first quarter late in regulation, fell victim to a 7-0 run early in overtime and saw its season end with a 90-83 defeat.
"Of course we're disappointed right afterward," MSU Denver coach
Tanya Haave said. "But no one can ever take away our conference tournament championship, and the five-game road winning streak (in an eight-day span in January) or all the overtime games. Every season has its ups and downs, but we had a lot more ups than downs.
"I'm extremely proud of our team, and you always hurt for your seniors. It's go, go, go and then, boom, it's done. It's tough to see them in the locker room when they are disappointed and there are some tears. We're definitely going to miss them."
Tosjanae Bonds was brilliant once again, forcing overtime by stealing an inbounds pass, keeping the ball in bounds, taking a return pass and draining a tying 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in regulation to make it 73-73.
She finished with her second career-high scoring night in a row, with 26 points on 11 of 17 shooting, and she added five steals for good measure.
Kendra Parra was equally clutch, sinking the 3-pointer that gave the Roadrunners a 70-68 lead with 2:34 left in regulation – their first lead since 5-4 in the opening three minutes of the game. Parra finished with a season-best 23 points while also grabbing five rebounds.
"Tos was just amazing, and Kendra was great, too," Haave said.
Morgan Griego, the most valuable player of the RMAC Tournament, had her third straight double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
MSU Denver, the region's fifth seed, finished the season 22-9.
Fourth-seeded Texas Woman's made it a clean sweep for the Lone Star Conference in the regional's first round – all four higher-seeded teams from that league defeated Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes.
Texas Woman's also won the marathon game against MSU Denver back in November.
After finally clawing in front 70-68 on Parra's 3, MSU Denver had a chance to extend the lead but couldn't connect, missing a shot and then committing a turnover.
"Our effort level was great," Haave said. "It was never-say-die."
Texas Woman's got a basket and then a three-point play and suddenly led 73-70 with 31 seconds left, then got the ball back after a Roadrunners turnover.
But, improbably, Bonds stole the inbounds pass and made her game-tying 3.
"Tos was just unconscious," Haave said. "We talked about going for a steal, and if not that we had to foul. And she went and got the steal."
MSU Denver got a stop on the other end and had two chances to score off inbounds passes, but was unable to get off a shot either time as the ball was deflected out of bounds.
In overtime, Bonds' driving layup tied the game 75-75, but Texas Woman's scored the next seven points to take control.
"They had two offensive rebounds, the second was an and-one, and that kind of broke our backs," Haave said.
Alex Carlton's 3 and Bonds' layup got the Roadrunners within four points, and Parra's 3 with 25 seconds left cut the deficit to 86-83.
But Texas Woman's made four free throws down the stretch to end it.
Like in the regular-season game, MSU Denver outscored Texas Woman's from the field (70-66 Friday), but a huge disparity in free throws made the difference – the Pioneers were 24 of 35, while MSU Denver was 13 of 15. In the two matchups combined, Texas Woman's shot 82 free throws to MSU Denver's 37, and the Roadrunners had nine players foul out, including three Friday.
"In the NCAA Tournament, in a close game, 35 free throws to 15 doesn't seem right," Haave said. "They're a physical team, just as physical as we are.
"We're disappointed that our season came to an end, but we have a lot of be proud of."
