SPEARFISH, S.D. – MSU Denver women's basketball coach Tanya Haave has kept her injury-riddled team together with every piece of figurative – and perhaps actual – duct tape, string, glue, baling wire and zip ties imaginable.
 
And the bond is strong.
 
The Roadrunners won their fifth consecutive game, and for the eighth time in their last 10, and knocked off third-place Black Hills State 62-52 Saturday night in a key road victory. MSU Denver improved to 12-10 overall and 10-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
"We're defending and rebounding, not giving up many offensive rebounds, we're taking care of the ball relatively well, and we're hitting big shots and staying together," Haave said. "And a lot of it is confidence. It's amazing what confidence will do for you."
 
Kendra Parra scored 18 points with another efficient offensive outing (4 of 6 from the field, 3 for 3 from 3-point range and 7 of 7 at the free throw line), while Tosjanae Bonds had 11 points and Mikylah Espinosa added 10.
 
One key piece to the Roadrunners' puzzle actually returned to the fold Saturday as forward Mya Jones played her first game in a year and had eight points, three rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes.
 
"She was very impactful on both ends of the floor," Haave said. "We're going to be very cautious with her. It was great to have her out there. She was really excited, and she's from (nearby) Rapid City (S.D.), so family was there. It was great to see."
 
Miza Gilberto had a team-high six rebounds, and Jaiden Galloway had a team-best four assists to go with six points, four rebounds and two steals.
 
A Bonds basket put MSU Denver ahead 15-14 in the first quarter and the Roadrunners never trailed the rest of the way, though Black Hills State tied the game 25-25 in the second quarter. MSU Denver led 31-26 at halftime and 37-26 with 8:14 left in the third quarter as part of a 12-1 run that lasted 5 ½ minutes.
 
When the Yellow Jackets got within 39-33 with 3:14 left in the third quarter, Parra nailed a 3. When it was down to 47-43 with 8:54 to go, Parra sank another 3. And when it was 52-46 with 3:26 left, Bonds hit a 3. The Roadrunners led by at least seven the rest of the way.
 
"Those were huge," Haave said. "And after Tos', we just kept getting stops to the point where they had to start fouling us."
 
Though still sixth in the RMAC, MSU Denver is now just a half-game behind fifth-place Westminster, and is one game behind fourth-place Adams State while holding the tiebreaker advantage. Westminster comes to the Auraria Event Center on Friday for the first of four straight home games for the Roadrunners.
 
"One game at a time," Haave said.