GUNNISON, Colo. – MSU Denver jumped out to a 27-10 lead early in the second quarter and kept Western Colorado at bay the rest of the way Friday night in a 63-51 victory in women's college basketball.
 
The Roadrunners led by as many as 19 points, at 34-15 in the second quarter, before Western Colorado (4-12 overall, 3-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) got within five points, at 39-34, with 4:27 left in the third.
 
"You knew they were going to make a run at home, and we only shot 17 percent (3 of 17) in the third quarter," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "But we were able to weather that, and we did it defensively. We were able to get enough stops to give us some time before we got our rhythm back offensively."
 
Tosjanae Bonds knocked down her first three 3-points attempts – giving her six straight makes from 3 over the last two games – and finished with a team-high 13 points to lead the Roadrunners
 
Kendra Parra added 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals, while Mikylah Espinosa added 11 points and three steals and Jaiden Galloway had 11 points and six assists with no turnovers.
 
"Jaiden in particular was really good tonight," Haave said. "She guarded their best player (Emmery Wagstaff was 4 of 16 from the field) and had six assists and no turnovers on the other end."
 
MSU Denver improved to 8-10 overall and 6-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
Despite taking 40 shots inside the 3-point arc, many of them in the lane, MSU Denver found it difficult to earn trips to the free throw line. Once there, they knocked down 14 of 17 for 82.4 percent.
 
"We had quite a few layups where we short-armed them instead of using the backboard," Haave said.