Roadrunners Down Yellowjackets, 89-64

Box Score

DENVER, Colo. – The Metro State Roadrunners were able to shut down the Montana State Billings women’s basketball team’s outside attack, holding the Yellowjackets to a 0-for-14 night behind the arc, defeating the Yellowjackets Saturday night at the Auraria Event Center, 89-64. The loss drops the Yellowjackets to 5-4 on the season and is the fourth loss in five games.

“You have to give Metro State a lot of credit tonight,” said head coach Kevin Woodin. “They played well and we had a hard time defending them. They shot very well from the floor and were an all-around balanced team. But we were a lot better inside tonight than we have been the past few games and Kayla Ryan continues to have great games for us.”

Ryan scored a career-high 25 points along with 12 rebounds for her team-leading seventh double-double on the season. Ryan was 8-of-10 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Callie Kautzmann chipped in with 17 points, while Sarah McNamee scored 14 with five assists and three steals.

The Yellowjackets controlled the opening tip and took a 2-0 lead off a Kautzmann lay-in and then retook the lead with 15:05 remaining in the first half when Kautzmann hit a jumper to put the ‘Jackets up 6-5. The Roadrunners went on a 7-0 run to take the lead for good after Leandra Sands hit a three-pointer to put them up by one.

MSUB cut the lead down to two with 5:41 remaining in the first half, but the Roadrunners finished the half on a 22-7 run to take the lead into the break, 43-28.

MSUB was unable to find a rhythm in the second half, going 11-of-32 from the floor and 0-for-7 from deep. As the half wound down, Metro stretched their lead to 26 at the most, going on to win by 25.

The Roadrunners (6-4) connected on 49.2 percent of their shots (32-of-65) for the game, including 7-of-15 from beyond the arc. Metro went 18-for-22 from the free throw line and won the rebounding battle 42-31.

Chelsea Williamson had a team-high 23 points and six rebounds, while Jasmine Cervantes brought down a team-high 12 boards and had six assists. Three other players for Metro were in double digits, including Alyssa Benson who scored 16, while Kristin Valencia and Sands each scored 13.

“It’ll be nice to have a break,” continued Woodin. “We have some small injuries that need some rest and it will be good for our kids to have that break and see their families. Then we’ll have to come back and get back to work to start the next part of the season off on the right foot.”

With the loss, MSUB drops to 5-4 on the season and now head into the Christmas break. The Yellowjackets will return to the court on Wednesday, December 30, against cross-town rival, Rocky Mountain College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Alterowitz Gymnasium.