Jan. 25, 2008

Box Score

DENVER, COLO. - Metro State's defense forced 21 UC-Colorado Springs turnovers and scored 22 points off those miscues as the Roadrunners defeated the Mountain Lions, 61-47, in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's basketball game, Friday evening at the Auraria Events Center.

Metro State's defense was the story as it held the Mountain Lions to just one three-point bucket in the game and 26 percent shooting from the floor in the first half as UCCS scored just 19 points in the first period.

The Roadrunners went on a 14-3 run to open the second half and led by 23 points, 45-22, less than five minutes into the stanza. The Mountain Lions stayed cold, scoring just 10 points in the first 10-plus minutes of the second half. Metro State had only 11 turnovers in the game as it fought off a 12-5 disadvantage at the free-throw line and a 36-33 deficit on the boards.

Ashley Mickens posted 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Stephanie Sauter had 13 points and Rae Bean pulled down seven boards for Metro State. Kirstin Buttars had a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards for UCCS.

UC-Colorado Springs led 10-9 with 12:15 to play in the first half but Metro State went on a 22-9 run over the rest of the period to take a 31-19 lead into the break. The Mountain Lions had 11 turnovers and just six field goals, while shooting 0-for-5 from three-point range. Buttars had eight points and five boards for UCCS, while Mickens scored 11 of her points in the opening period, all in the last 7:37. Metro State had just one free-throw attempt in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Metro State has now won seven straight games and has not lost in the month of January.

With the win, Metro State improves to 12-6 overall, 8-2 RMAC, while UC-Colorado Springs drops to 9-12 overall, 3-7 in the RMAC. The Roadrunners host Regis, Saturday evening at 5 p.m.