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'Runners' sweet revenge on Regis
Metro fights back from 9 down to close gap in standings
By Heather Embrey
hembrey@mscd.edu

Photo by Andrew Bisset • abisset1@mscd.edu Metro guard Ashley Mickens pulls up for a 15-foot jumper against Regis Feb. 10 at the Auraria Events Center. Mickens scored a career-high 21 points and added eight rebounds and four assists in the upset win over the No. 19-ranked Rangers. The Roadrunners finished with a 13-2 record on their home court.

The women’s basketball team made a statement with a sweep over conference foes UC-Colorado Springs and Regis University on Feb. 9 and 10.
Their message? “We are not dead yet.”

The Roadrunners’ Anne-Marie Torp delivered 15 of the 52 first-half points scored by Metro in a win over UC-Colorado Springs, 85-30, Feb. 9 at the Auraria Events Center.

Cassondra Bratton followed close behind Torp by scoring 14 points to give the Roadrunners the win they needed to prove they still had plenty of gas left in the tank, after losing two games in the past two weeks.

In the first two minutes of the game, Metro managed to score seven straight points and then doubled their lead to 18-4, forcing the Rangers to take a timeout.

Metro kept the Mountain Lions’ offense in check by pressing full court for the first half of the game. Because of their conditioning, they were able to keep the lead early on.

“There’s no secret to our style,” head coach Dave Murphy said. “We try to put at least 40 feet of pressure early in order to keep the turnover rate high. Teams know our strategy. They just don’t come prepared for it.”

Metro found the 3-point range late in the first half with consecutive threes by Torp, Stephanie Sauter, Rianna Harris and Paige Powers. They ended the first with a 26-point lead over UC-Coloradp Springs. .

Torp attributed her good game to a great warm-up. She had more energy Friday night and knew she and the ’Runners had to get out on the court and get on it.

Metro was more alive than ever when they took on 19th-ranked Regis the following night with an exciting 76-67 upset win.

Ashley Mickens took the game on her shoulders by scoring 21 points in the game. Powers, who struggled all year to find her groove coming off shoulder surgery, scored a season-high 19 points, while Harris followed up with 10 points of her own and nine rebounds.

Regis led the game until Torp tied it up at 30 in the second half, when Powers grabbed an offensive board and gave Torp an assist for a layup. Metro forced a turnover with seven minutes left in the game when they used it to capture the lead that they never relinquished.

“This time of year, it’s not about the points, it’s about the passion,” Murphy said. “We have to come together this time of year and show teams that we are here. Winning always gives us more confidence.”

Murphy explained that they had prepared for Regis with a simple strategy: rebound defensively and execute offensively.

It was also senior night for Rianna Harris, who played her last regular-season game at the Auraria Events Center. In school history, Harris ranks fourth in career points (1073), third in blocked shots (74), fifth in steals (155) and third in rebounding (696).

“When this young lady came in as a freshman, we knew she was talented,” Murphy said. “We knew she had a lot of potential, but through the years she had some injuries and some confidence issues. But this kid has persevered. This kid is going to be a success … and I believe we haven’t seen the last of Rianna.”

Harris, who has won two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards in her career at Metro, was humbled about the flowers and plaque, but her focus was still on the game.

“It was definitely motivation to come out and play hard,” Harris said about being honored by her teammates and coaches. “I’ve been here for four years, and it was a great senior night.”

With the two RMAC wins, Metro’s record improves to 18-5 and 11-4 in the conference. They face off next at Chadron State Feb. 15 and at Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 17.