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Win, loss graces team
by Eric Scott
The Metropolitan
 (by Steve Stoner- The Metropolita) Metro's Kristin Hein, left, attempts to dribble around Fort Hays State defender Lindsey Dieterich Feb. 26 during the first half of the game at the Auraria Events Center. The Roadrunners beat the Tigers 68-50.
It was a week of triumph and defeat for Metro women's basketball as they defeated Fort Hays State but fell to Nebraska-Kearney.
Metro (12-15 overall, 10-9 RMAC) faced the Fort Hays State Tigers (15-11, 10-9 RMAC) last Thursday at the Auraria Events Center.
Fort Hays jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a jumper from junior forward Cassie Cordell, but the Roadrunners stormed back by going on a 15-2 run that brought Metro's lead to 15-4. Freshman center Angelena Kuleff scored seven points during the run. The Tigers clawed back by going on a 12-5 run, which put the score at 20-16.
With a little over two minutes remaining in the half, Metro went on an 8-4 run, setting their lead at 19 (42-23) at the half. Cook led all scorers with 12 points at halftime.
Junior guard Natasha Molock continued the fireworks for the Roadrunners by starting the half with a three-pointer, which made the score 45-23. After that, scoring was stagnant. The 'Runners scored just 23 points in the second half while shooting 26 percent (9-34). Metro was able, however, to go 6-6 in the half from the free-throw line and 14-15 for the game. Fort Hays was not able to come within 18 points of the lead the rest of the way, as the Roadrunners were able to swallow the Tigers 68-50.
"I thought our defensive pressure disrupted their offense," said head coach Dave Murphy, "and we rebounded as well as we could. We also took care of the ball well and we did what we had to do." Murphy added he thought it seemed like "they (Hays) were caught off guard and lost their edge."
After the jubilation of Thursday's win subsided, Metro took on the RMAC regular season champion Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (22-5, 16-3 RMAC).
Numerous lead changes took place in the first ten minutes, but neither team was able to firmly grasp the lead with 6 ties taking place. The Roadrunners did enjoy a 13-9 lead, but the lead disappeared after Kearney went on a 6-2 run. After a three-pointer from UNK sophomore guard Nicole Gruntorad, Kearney took a 20-15 lead. Metro sprinted its way back with a 7-2 run, tying the score at 22 with 7:04 remaining in the first half. Less than two minutes later, things began spiraling downward for the 'Runners as the Lopers went on an 8-0 run, which put Kearney's lead at 36-28. Before the end of the half, the Roadrunners were able to keep the UNK lead to within striking distance after Molock sunk two free-throws to make the halftime score 42-37.
Early in the second half, the Lopers took command as they went up by as many as 12 points with 14:12 remaining. Metro still had some fight left as they went on a 13-3 run, which cut the Kearney lead to 61-59. After that, the Lopers destroyed any hope the 'Runners might have had as UNK put the lead in double figures for good. Kearney went on to win the game 81-66. Metro was out-rebounded 40-25 and shot a dismal 39 percent from the field in the second half.
"One thing that hurt us was they got us out of our running," Murphy said. "We made 10 fewer field goals than them (UNK) and their defense destroyed our rhythm."
Although the Roadrunners lost their final regular season game, they were able to clinch the sixth seed in the RMAC Tournament. They were scheduled to face the No. 3 seed CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves on Wednesday, March 3. For results of that game, go to http://www.mscd.edu/~runners. |
