PUEBLO — The Metro State women’s basketball team set two school records — one impressive and the other in futility — as it advanced in the RMAC Shooutout.
Senior Cassondra Bratton scored 17 points and led the Roadrunners to a 48-37 win in overtime over Adams State on Friday at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.
The Roadrunners allowed the Grizzlies just eight first-half points — their best defensive effort ever — but then scored just 11 themselves in the second half — a new-low for Metro.
In fact, the Roadrunners scored more points (13) in the five-minute overtime than they did in the second half.
“That was the epitome of survive and advance,” Metro State’s first-year coach Tanya Haave said. “Sometimes you do what you’ve got to do to win games. And that’s what this team does.”
Jasmine Cervantes scored 13 points and Kristin Valencia pulled down 10 rebounds for the Roadrunners (27-1). Adams State senior Vera Jo Bustos scored 17 in the loss as the Grizzlies managed just one basket in overtime.
Metro State faces Fort Lewis in today’s title game. The Skyhawks beat Colorado Christian 80-65 in the other semifinal.
Fort Lewis junior Dana Schreibvogel, the RMAC player of the year, had 27 points.
CCU junior forward Stephenie Allen had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Cougars.
Men
Top-seeded Colorado Mines beat Adams State 69-62 in one men’s semifinal. The Orediggers next face second-seeded Fort Lewis, a 56-54 semifinal winner over Metro State.
Daniel Steffensen scored 16 points and DeAndre Lansdowne had 12 for Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks’ defense limited Metro State to just 36 percent shooting from the floor.
Quaran Johnson scored 11 points and was the only player in double figures for the Roadrunners.
Gordon Galloway scored 16 points for the Orediggers, who still have an outside chance to host the Central Region Tournament next week.
Mines limited the Grizzlies to six field goals in the second half.
“It was a physical game and we love to match physicality with teams,” Mines coach Pryor Orsor said. “We sent them to the free-throw line a lot (26-for-37) but we played hard throughout.”
