The Metro women's basketball team ended its season in a 79-66 loss to the University of Nebraska-Kearney in the opening round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout.

The Roadrunners finished the 2005-2006 season with an 18-9 overall record and went 15-5 in the RMAC.

"We all wish we were still playing, but we're trying to focus on the high points of the season and the things we can work on to take it into next year," sophomore Paige Powers said.

Metro struggled to establish momentum early and allowed the Lopers to run off with a 24-14 lead in the opening 10 minutes of play. The 'Runners climbed back to within eight points with just over three minutes in the first half, but Nebraska-Kearney went into halftime up 44-28.

The Lopers' first half performance included a 17-2 advantage in points off turnovers. Liz Fischer led the Nebraska-Kearney offense with 14 points. Jade Meads and Jonni Mildenberger each scored 10 for the Lopers in the first half.

Sophomore Paige Powers led the 'Runners' first half scoring with nine points, and the Metro bench outscored Nebraska-Kearney 13-3 in the first.

The Roadrunners began the second half with the daunting task of overcoming a 16-point deficit. Metro went on a 20-9 run in the first eight minutes and narrowed the lead to 55-49 with 11:46 remaining.

The 'Runners continued to build defensive pressure by forcing the Lopers to take difficult shots from mid-range and the perimeter. While Nebraska-Kearney missed, the Roadrunners' shooters stayed sharp. Danielle Ellerington hit a pair of free throws at 5:49. As a result, Metro narrowed the lead to three points.

"For 14 minutes, we played Roadrunner basketball," Murphy said. "We did the things that we had to do. We made defensive stops, we executed on offense, played rather smart."

It was as close as the 'Runners would get through the remainder of the game. Key turnovers by Metro led to a Lopers run.

"We fought back, we were down, and we were able to get it close," Powers said. "We just couldn't quite get it over the hump. We had a few turnovers and they hit some big shots."

Nebraska-Kearney outscored the Roadrunners 18-8 in the final five minutes of the game.

The Roadrunners' offense was more accurate down the stretch, hitting 46 percent from the field. Metro's disadvantage came from a higher number of foul calls.

The Lopers went to the free throw line 32 times and capitalized on 21 of them. Nebraska-Kearney also earned 13 steals and outscored Metro 33-8 off turnovers.

Powers led Metro's offense with 17 points. Junior Rianna Harris scored 10 points and pulled in seven rebounds. Sophomores Danielle Ellerington, Megan Johnson and freshman Stacey Cox each scored eight.