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Metro steals show
'Runners continue RMAC dominance in blowout over Mines
By Eric Lansing
lansing@mscd.edu

Photo by Molly Kreck • kreck@mscd.edu Metro guard Ashley Mickens, left, tries to recover on defense while Mines forward Emily Dalton, right, takes it to the hoop. Mickens did have two steals on the night in Metro’s 63-49 win at the Auraria Events Center.

Metro forced 23 turnovers and got an all-around performance from guard Ashley Mickens to defeat Colorado School of Mines 63-49 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Jan. 19 at the Auraria Events Center.

“At the half we said we needed to be patient offensively and pick up our intensity,” head coach Dave Murphy said. “We had to turn up our energy and execute, and we did that in the second half. Ashley Mickens said ‘Follow me’ and really concentrated offensively and knocked down some great shots.”

The Roadrunners’ defense was stifling all night in forcing turnovers, including 10 steals that led to 19 points. They also came away with four blocks and held the Orediggers to a dreadful 26.7 percent shooting in the second half.

Both teams came into the game with three-game winning streaks and were ranked first and second in the conference in scoring defense. Metro was ranked first in allowing opponents to only score 58.9 points per game, while Mines only gave up 59.5 points per game.

The first half was an exciting battle that featured nine ties and seven lead changes. Metro’s defense was great in forcing 13 turnovers and coming away with six steals. Mines stayed in the game by outrebounding the Roadrunners 18-13, including 12 defensive rebounds. The ’Diggers did not allow Metro to have second-chance points, which is one of the ’Runners’ strengths.

Metro took a one-point lead on a Mickens free throw with 10 seconds left in the first half. Mickens missed the second free throw, and Mines guard Iva Tomova, who had 10 points in the first half, grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball up to forward Blakelee Midyett. Midyett found guard Amanda Adams running the court and fed Adams a nice pass that led to an easy layup at the buzzer. The two points gave the Orediggers a 29-28 halftime lead.

The ’Runners jumped out of the gate in the second half with a 15-foot jumper by guard Danielle Ellerington. The junior guard led Metro in scoring in the first half with eight points. The jumper propelled a 22-4 run that gave the ’Runners a 50-33 lead.

“Danielle did a marvelous job at staying relaxed and letting the game come to her,” Murphy said. “She is always fired up to play. I really am proud of how unselfish we are offensively.”

Mines got to within eight points when Tomova hit two straight jumpers at the 4:17 mark. Tomova led all Orediggers in scoring with 16 points but also lost six turnovers. Midyett put up 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the loss.

Mickens did it all for Metro by scoring 13 points, pulling down nine rebounds, handing out six assists and even getting her hands on two steals.

The conference victory gives the Roadrunners a 7-2 record in the RMAC and a 14-3 overall record. Metro hits the road to take on conference leader Regis Jan. 26 at Regis Fieldhouse.

Regis will be no easy task for the Roadrunners, as they are tied with Metro for first place in the conference. The Rangers also lead the RMAC in scoring offense (79.4) and are second in field-goal percentage (.451). They have the leading scorer in the conference with senior guard Diana Lopez, who averages 17.6 point per contest.

Last year’s battle saw the two teams fight it out for first place in the RMAC, and the Rangers came out on top in overtime, 79-69, Jan. 24, 2006, at the Auraria Events Center.