ALAMOSA – After a back-and-forth first half in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference quarterfinals, the Adams State University women’s basketball team rallied in the second half to defeat Metropolitan State University-Denver 71-63 Tuesday at Plachy Hall gym.

The Grizzlies started the second half by scoring 30 points in the third quarter.

“Third quarter, I thought we started playing at our pace, defensively and offensively” said ASU coach Mario Caetano. “That showed by scoring 30 points in the third quarter, but it started with us forcing turnovers and causing some chaos.”

The Roadrunners started fast on back-to-back 3-point baskets by Neveah Millard and Mikylah Espinosa. But the lead didn’t last long as the Grizzlies scored the next 14 points.

Elaina Watson started the run with a three, and Taejhuan Hill followed with a short jumper. Jada Price made two free throws, and Ashiian Hunter also drained a trey. Watson and Price both made layups for a 14-6 ASU lead.

Jadyn Watts ended the run with a jumper, but Brooklyn Long scored a layup. Espinosa also drove for a layup, but Watson scored again to give ASU an 18-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

MSU-Denver started the second quarter with a layup by Keira Mitchell and a three by Watts. Millard made two free throws, and Brianna Sealy made a layup to put the Roadrunners back into the lead at 19-18.

Mia Ervin made two free throws to put Adams State back on top. But Brooklyn Jones hit a 3-pointer for a 22-20 MSU-Denver lead.

Hill tied the score, and Ervin made two more free throws. Espinosa deadlocked the score at 24-24, but Hill and Nakya Blakley both scored to give the Grizzlies a 28-24 advantage.

Watts made two free throws, and Espinosa a trey to give the Roadrunners a 29-28 lead at halftime.

Hunter opened the second half with a pair of free tosses, but Espinosa knocked down a jumper. Hunter buried a three, but Watts hit a jump shot to knot the score at 33-33.

Watson scored in the paint, but Watts made a layup and added a free throw for a 36-35 MSU-Denver lead. Blakley put the Grizzlies back into the lead with a three, but Sealy made two free throws to again tie the score, this time at 38-38.

Blakley hit a jumper, but Watts made a layup for a 40-40 tie.

Hunter then drained back-to-back 3-pointers to give the lead back to ASU. Watts split at the free throw line and Espinosa buried a jumper to cut the lead to 46-43.

Kiiyani Anitielu made a three, but Watts converted two from the line. Hill and Watson both scored to push the lead to 53-45.

Sealy made two more free throws, but Anitielu made a layup and a free throw, and Watson made a layup to give Adams State a 58-47 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Blakley started the fourth quarter with a 3-point basket to give the Grizzlies their largest lead at 61-47. The Roadrunners attempted a comeback as Sealy made a layup, and Watts made back-to-back baskets. Espinosa also scored to cut the lead to 61-55.

Hill made a pair from the line, and Ervin made a jumper to again give the Grizzlies a double-digit lead at 65-55. But Espinosa made a layup, and Millard and Sealy both split at the line. Sealy scored again to bring MSU-Denver within 65-61.

Ervin made one of two from the line, and Anitielu hit a jumper. Madison Johnson made a layup for the Roadrunners, but Hunter made two free throws, and Ervin made one of two to wrap up the scoring.

Adams State had four players score in double figures and was led by Hunter with 18 points. Watson scored 13, and Hill and Blakley both scored 10.

Watts led MSU-Denver with 23 points, followed by Espinosa with 18.

The Grizzlies outrebounded the Roadrunners 42-38. Hill led in rebounding with 10.

Adams State (22-9) played the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in the RMAC semifinals Friday in Grand Junction. Should the Grizzlies win, they will play either Colorado Mesa University or Black Hills State (S.D.) University at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Adams State 71, Metropolitan State-Denver 63

MSU-Denver – Watts 8-12 6-7 23, Mitchell 1-2 0-0 2, Espinosa 8-19 0-0 18, Johnson 1-7 0-0 2, Millard 2-4 3-4 8, Sealy 1-5 5-6 7, Jones 1-9 0-0 3, Nocke 0-0 0-0 0. Total 22-58, 14-17.

3-point goals – Watts 1-1, Espinosa 2-7, Johnson 0-5, Millard 1-2, Jones 1-6. Total 5-21.

Adams State – Hill 4-13 2-2 10, Watson 6-11 0-0 13, Hunter 5-12 4-4 18, Price 0-2 2-4 2, Anitielu 3-17 1-1 8, Ervin 1-2 6-8 8, Blakley 4-10 0-0 10, Long 1-3 0-0 2, Arroyo-Gilcrese 0-2 0-0 0, Martinez 0-0 0-0 0. Total 24-72 15-19 71.

3-point goals – Watson 1-3, Hunter 4-11, Anitielu 1-10, Blakley 2-7, Arroyo-Gilcrese 0-2. Total 8-33.

MSU-Denver 10 19 18 16 – 63

Adams State 18 10 30 13 – 71

Rebounds – MSU-Denver 38 (Watts 10), Adams State 42 (Hill 10). Assists – MSU-Denver 7 (Espinosa, Millard 2), Adams State 15 (Anitielu 7. Steals – MSU-Denver 10 (Espinosa 4), Adams State 18 (Watson 5). Fouls – MSU-Denver 13, Adams State 15. Turnovers – MSU-Denver 26, Adams State 16.