DENVER – MSU Denver's February pushed continues.
 
The Roadrunners, after cruising past South Dakota Mines 71-52 on Friday night, have now won a season-high three straight games.
 
"It's better late than never," forward Darla Hernandez said. "We had kind of a slow start, but we're getting it now."
 
MSU Denver pulled away from a 36-30 halftime lead by outscoring the Hardrockers 22-9 in the third period, and led comfortably the rest of the way while avenging a December road defeat.
 
"We got a couple of wins on the road (last week) and we're playing well and executing," guard Mikylah Espinosa said. "It feels pretty good."
 
The Roadrunners, 43-14 in February over the last eight seasons, shot 54.5 percent from the field in the decisive third period, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and made 7 of 8 free throws. Defensively in the third quarter, MSU Denver held South Dakota Mines to 15.0 percent from the field (3 of 20), including 1 of 7 from 3.
 
"I felt like some of their players were a little hungrier, more aggressive, in the first half," MSU Denver coach Tanya Haave said. "We've tended to be a little more tentative at home. I told them, 'I don't want to come back at the end of the game and they've been hungrier and they've won.'"
 
Espinosa and Co. made sure that didn't happen.
 
Espinosa finished with 22 points while making 4 of 6 from 3-point range and mixing in her usual array of jaw-dropping, acrobatic finishes.
 
Guard Tosjanae Bonds added 13 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots, and guard Brooklynn Jones scored 12 while making 4 of 7 from 3. Hernandez had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Espinosa, a sophomore averaging 14.4 points per game for the season, is averaging 20.8 points over her last six games.
 
"Last year I wouldn't shoot," Espinosa said. "But over the summer I got my shot fixed and I've been confident to shoot more."
 
Haave likes another part of the game where the athletic guard is making progress.
 
"I thought she did a really good job on the defensive end," Haave said. "She's capable enough and fit enough. She needs to dominate on both ends of the floor. At this point, her scoring is going to come … I'm interested in looking at the boxscore and seeing her assists, steals and turnovers."
 
MSU Denver (6-14 overall, 5-10 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) will look to avenge another December road loss on Saturday, when it plays host to Black Hills State at 3:30 p.m.