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Life > Athletics > Basketball > 12/29/06
#16 METRO STATE OVERWHELMS TWU 75-54
DENVER, Colorado (Dec. 29) – The Metro State Roadrunners, ranked #16 in the latest NCAA Division II Women's Basketball poll, used a balanced offensive effort to defeat the Texas Woman's University Pioneers 75-54 on Friday afternoon at the Comfort Inn Downtown Classic in Denver, Colorado.
Metro State junior guard Paige Powers led all scorers in the contest with 13 points. Powers was one of four MSU players to total double-digit points in the game. Sophomore forward Cassondra Bratton and junior guard Megan Johnson collected 11 points each for the Roadrunners. Junior guard Anne-Marie Torp also had 10 points for MSU.
Initially, TWU looked as if they were going to pull off the upset win on the Roadrunners home court. The Pioneers starting backcourt tandem of sophomore Maggy Deweber and junior Brandi Crouch scored five points apiece in the opening 7:06 of the first half to help TWU jump out to a quick 14-8 advantage.
Following a timeout by MSU head coach Dave Murphy, the Roadrunners would rally. Two jump shots by Powers sparked a 9-0 run that gave MSU a 17-14 lead.
The Pioneers could not respond to the Roadrunners surge, and, by halftime, the Metro State margin would grow to 42-28.
TWU head coach Rene Hanebutt said her team's inability to answer Metro State's first half push was the difference in the game.
"We played really well to start the game. Obviously, when you get out to an early lead, things are going well. But once they (MSU) regrouped and adjusted, we never responded. We lost our focus on both of ends of the court and didn't do what we needed to do to win," she explained.
The Roadrunners strong play continued to start the second half. Metro State would open the final twenty minutes of the game with a 9-0 run to stretch their lead to 51-28.
A three-point basket by TWU freshman guard Chelsi Thrailkill pulled the Pioneers to within 19 points, 54-35, with just over thirteen minutes to play. Metro State, however, responded with another 9-0 run that would put the game out of reach.
Freshman post Chelsea Cook was the high scorer in the game for TWU with 12 points. Freshman guard Jessica Durr added 10 points for the Pioneers.
TWU (6-5, 2-0 in the LSC South) will have to regroup in a hurry. The Pioneers will stay in Denver and play the Adam State Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon, December 30, at 1:00 p.m. in their second game of the holiday classic. Metro State (9-2) will face the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the final game of the tourney at 3:00 p.m.
For additional information, please contact the TWU Sports Information office at (940) 898-2373.
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