BOXSCORE

GREELEY, Colo. - Exhibition games are meant to work the kinks out in the early season and hopefully the Northern Colorado women's basketball team can take lessons learned from a 60-52 loss to Metro State and apply them throughout the 2009-10 season.

The Bears started the game sluggish and were never able to recover, shooting just .265 from the field and .522 from the free throw line. Senior guard Whitley Cox led the team with 19 points, while she and freshman Lauren Oosdyke each tallied seven rebounds. Junior guard Courtney Stoermer had a team-best four assists, while she and senior guard Lizzie Cooper each had three steals.

The Roadrunners were led by Jalyssa Carter with 17 points, 15 rebounds and four steals, while Kristin Valencia had 12 rebounds and Alyssa Benson had 12 points. Jasmine Cervantes led the team with four assists and three blocks.

Metro State jumped out to an early 7-0 lead. The Bears rallied back to score the next seven and tie the score, one of five times it was tied during the game. Northern Colorado took a slight edge into the locker room at the break, 27-25, but were unable to hold the lead after shooting just .176 from the floor in the second stanza.

The Bears were out-rebounded 46-40, but tallied 10 steals compared to just seven for the Roadrunners and committed 10 less turnovers, 15-25.

Northern Colorado starts the regular season on Friday, November 13 at New Mexico at 7:05 p.m. in the first round of the Preseason WNIT.