DENVER, Colo. – One night after completing a massive fourth quarter comeback, Winona State University's second half rally at Metro State University Denver fell shy as the Warriors dropped a competitive 58-55 decision to the Roadrunners on Saturday evening.
Sophomore Allie Pickrain carried the WSU offense with a career-best 26 points in the loss.
As a team, the Warriors struggled collectively from the field shooting just 31.6 percent while the Roadrunners owned a slight edge at 34.5 percent. WSU recorded a 42-39 rebounding advantage, including a 13-12 lead in offensive boards, but the home team converted its second-chance points into 18 points compared to just five by the Warriors. Metro State also led the way in the paint at a 22-12 clip and turner 18 Winona State turnovers into 17 points.
The Roadrunners took their first lead of the game on their final possession of the first quarter and led by as many as seven points midway through the second frame. Pickrain knocked down one of her four three-pointers at the 5:36 mark of the second quarter to spark an eight-point run capped by Julia Silloway's bucket from downtown as the Warriors reclaimed a 23-21 lead. Metro State answered with at 11-2 run to take a 32-25 lead into the break.
The two teams traded baskets in the third quarter of what proved to be a competitive second half of action. The Roadrunners led for the duration of the frame, but a three-pointer by Alyssa Jurges slashed the home team's lead to 45-40 heading to the final period.
Winona State and Metro State would trade the lead five times over the final 10 minutes, but both offenses went cold down the stretch. Pickrain's layup at the 5:10 mark gave WSU a 51-49 lead, however stood as the Warriors' final field goal of the half. The Roadrunners answered on their ensuing possession with one of their final two field goals to knot the score at 51 apiece.
The teams then traded free throws over the final minutes with a pair of clutch shots at the charity stripe by Pickrain cutting the Warrior deficit to 54-53. Silloway went 1-2 in two trips to the line in the final minute to put WSU back in front, 55-54. With 48 seconds left on the clock, Emily Hartegan slashed into the lane for what proved to be the game-winning layup as Metro State sealed its win at the line 58-55 before Pickrain's final three-point attempt went off the mark.
Sophomore Emma Fee led Winona State with a career-best nine rebounds in the setback.
The Warriors drop to 2-2 on the year while Metro State (1-4) tallies its first win of the season. Three of the Roadrunners previous four losses came against teams ranked or receiving votes in the Top 25.
Winona State opens conference play with its first home game of the season on Saturday, December 1 in McCown Gymnasium. The Warriors host Upper Iowa University at 2 p.m.
