Women's basketball wins three straight after opening loss
By Matt Gunn
gunnma@mscd.edu
The Metro women's basketball team hasn't faltered since opening this season with a loss. The Roadrunners won three straight games and earned a 3-1 record in the first two weeks of play.
Metro lost to Tarleton State University 75-73 on Nov. 18, in the Al Kaly Shrine Classic in Pueblo. The 'Runners built a 13-point lead with just under five minutes remaining. A number of missed shots and fouls led to the Roadrunners' demise.
The 'Runners didn't make the same mistakes the next evening against Black Hills State University. Metro dominated the Yellow Jackets on its way to an 87-53 win.
Sophomore Paige Powers scored 20 points and led an offense that featured five players who scored in double digits.
The Roadrunners won in rebounds 42-36, and took advantage of mistakes made by Black Hills State by scoring 42 points off turnovers.
"Our transition defense is great," freshman guard Jessica von Tillow said. "We get in different presses and rotate off of everything."
Strong defense was an essential ingredient in Metro's next game against Wayne State University. The 'Runners defense held the visiting Warriors to 49 points, and while the offense struggled at times, Metro's 63 points were enough to secure the win.
Junior Rianna Harris came off the bench in the first half to lead all players with nine points, five rebounds and two blocks.
"I'm just out there trying to do what I can," Harris said, "and whether I'm coming off the bench or whether I'm starting, I'm going to come out and play my game."
Despite Harris' strong play, the Roadrunners led by a 30-28 margin at the half. The second half was a defensive struggle. Both offenses played in fits and starts, and there were eight lead changes in the final 20 minutes.
Metro took the lead for good with 11:44 remaining. Powers helped drive the offense with nine second-half points, and helped stretch the lead to as many as 13 points. The defense prevented a Yellow Jacket score for over five minutes between 8:33 to 3:01.
"I think that defense was the big push today," sophomore guard Danielle Ellerington said. "They usually score about 80 points a game and we held them to 49, so it was definitely our defense that got us into our transition offense."
Wayne State grew desperate in the final minutes and fouled the Roadrunners with each possession. The Yellow Jackets did little more than delay the inescapable loss.
Metro finished the weekend with its third consecutive win. The 'Runners escaped a late Winona State University rally to win 72-69 at the Auraria Event Center.
Junior forward Jessica Grubb led the Roadrunners with 14 points. She made seven of eight field goal attempts. Powers contributed 12 points, and freshman guard Stacey Cox came off the bench to score eight points and grab four rebounds.
The 'Runners took a six-point, 37-31 lead into halftime, and nearly watched a nine-point lead disappear in the final three minutes of the game.
With five seconds remaining, Winona State missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game.
Metro has one remaining home game before returning to the road. The Roadrunners play Montana State University-Billings at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 at the Auraria Event Center before opening the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Season Dec. 9 at Adams State College.