DENVER – Halfway through the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference portion of the schedule, the MSU Denver women's basketball team is realistically 75 seconds away from sporting a 6-5 record.
However, four excruciatingly close losses – including Tuesday's 65-62 setback at Nos. 12/13 Colorado School of Mines – have the Roadrunners sitting at 2-9 heading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. home game with Western Colorado.
And it isn't just how those games were decided in the closing seconds that made the difference.
"That's the difference you have when you need more consistency, or just making plays," MSU Denver coach
Tanya Haave said. "If we make some more layups and free throws alone during those games, we really could be 6-5.
"We've told them that we're right there, and we just have to get over the top. Winning is hard, and not many teams are rolling people right now. You have to work for everything you get."
On Saturday, MSU Denver will recognize and participate in "We Back Pat," the Alzheimer's awareness event going on at multiple games around the country. It's particularly special for Haave, one of the best players that Pat Summitt coached during her legendary Tennessee career.
"It's nice to support that foundation and honor Coach Summitt," Haave said. "It's always a special day for me and I'm glad that we can participate in it. Our administration is very supportive of that cause."
MSU Denver is 3-13 overall and will be facing a Western Colorado team in a similar situation – the Mountaineers are 3-12 overall and are 1-9 in league play prior to a Friday night game at Colorado School of Mines.
"I'm glad we're playing them at home, and I'm glad they're playing Mines the night before," Haave said. "Hopefully we'll be a little fresher with the night off."
The Mountaineers have an outstanding post player in Rachel Cockman, a 6-foot-2 junior, averaging 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. And freshman guard Jayda Maves averages 12.4 points and shoots 35.1 percent from 3-point range (40 of 114).
"Cockman is a nice, skilled post player and we'll have to try to neutralize her," Haave said. "And Jayda Maves is a nice player who is fit, a hard worker and a grinder."
Meanwhile, MSU Denver has one of the league's hottest players in
Mikylah Espinosa, who has scored 54 points in her last two games against the two best teams in the RMAC – and that includes 50 points in the last five quarters of those games.
Espinosa has scored in double figures in eight straight games while averaging 16.6 points, and for the season averages 13.6.
"She's kind of understanding her role now," Haave said. "She didn't necessarily like replacing (last year's leading scorer) Kendra (Parra), but now she's taking that on and hopefully she can keep up that consistency – on both ends of the floor."
