GOLDEN, Colo. – If MSU Denver is making a case for inclusion in the NCAA Tournament, then it just got through a critical cross-examination.
The Roadrunners took down nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa for the third time this season in a 74-59 victory Friday night in the RMAC Tournament semifinals, with a deposition that raised few objections.
MSU Denver (21-8) led from start to finish, jumping out to an early 28-14 lead, then holding on as the No. 25 (D2SIDA) Mavericks got within three points late in the second quarter and again late in the third quarter. Then MSU Denver pulled away down the stretch with a strong closing argument.
The Roadrunners advance to Saturday's neutral-site championship matchup with CSU-Pueblo at 6 p.m. in Golden, Colo. In the regular-season meeting, MSU Denver won on the road, 84-74 in double overtime.
"They're playing very well, and they are very talented, very aggressive," Haave said. "It'll be a battle."
The Roadrunners are playing in the RMAC Tournament championship for the first time since 2011 and are seeking their first championship since 2005.
And while MSU Denver has a number of things going for it as it tries to make the eight-team Division II South Central Regional, the defense should never rest. A win in the championship game would give the Roadrunners an automatic berth in the NCAA field, a verdict that couldn't be overturned.
A loss could make things uncomfortable heading into Sunday's 8 p.m. MST selection show.
MSU Denver was ranked No. 9 in the region heading into the week, before beating regional No. 7 Westminster and regional No. 4 Mesa. CSU-Pueblo opened the week No. 8 in the region, and beat regional No. 6 Colorado School of Mines, on its home floor, in Friday's first semifinal.
Things are going somewhat according to play in the Lone Star Conference – the other league in the region – which should help four RMAC teams make the NCAA field.
But that's something to figure out later in the weekend.
First, let's look at Friday's briefing.
MSU Denver shot 42.9 percent from the field while holding Colorado Mesa (23-6) to 32.1 percent, and the Roadrunners also hit 8 of 16 from 3 and 18 of 21 free throws (85.7 percent).
"We really started well," MSU Denver coach
Tanya Haave said of her team's opening statement. "Tosjanae (Bonds) was very aggressive and got to the rim and got us a couple of easy baskets that helped loosen things up for our inside game."
Fourth-year forward
Morgan Griego matched a career high with 21 points and added 11 rebounds, Bonds had 12 points, three blocked shots and three steals while playing stout defense on RMAC Player of the Year Daniella Turner, last year's RMAC Player of the Year
Allie Navarette had 10 points, nine rebounds and a career-high five assists, and fourth-year guard
Alex Carlton scored 10 points, including back-to-back clutch 3-pointers
It doesn't end there, either. Freshman guard
Mariana Silva Pereira had a career high nine points while hitting a pair of 3s,
Maggie Justinak hit a big 3, and
Jaela Richardson, limited to 16 minutes due to foul trouble, dished out five assists to tie a season high.
"Our depth really helped us tonight," Haave said.
Colorado Mesa's last rebuttal got it within 53-49 early in the fourth quarter, but Carlton hit her back-to-back 3s to bump the lead back to 10.
"That was a dagger," Haave said. "It really put us in a good spot. We asked before the game, 'who is going to hit some shots?' And we hit some shots. Like most games, it comes down to who makes plays."
As the run continued, Carlton hit two free throws to make it 63-49, and Griego nailed a 3 to make it 66-51. The lead eventually reached 17 points several times.
Case closed.
While half of Mesa's losses have come to MSU Denver this season, the Roadrunners also had to overcome the adage that it's difficult to beat a good team three times. It was especially tough since MSU Denver used the same theory to its advantage in beating a Westminster team that had taken two from the Roadrunners before Tuesday's quarterfinal game.
"Now we were on the other end of it, and it is tough to beat a team three times," Haave said. "But we came out with such aggression, on both sides of the floor, and that really helped. Our players are on a mission."
