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The girls were loose warming up on the court an hour before tip off. Sure there was the obvious sense of pressure. Expectations of continuing an amazing season. But with an hour til game time inside Brownson Arena, the Mavericks were smiling, waving at family in the stands, and getting ready to play in the biggest game of their careers.

Monday night, after two back-to-back tournaments at home, the Mavericks (31-1) played host for the final time this season to the Mustangs of Midwestern State University (26-6). The Mavericks outlasted the Mustangs 69-65.
 
“This is a hostile environment, the place was packed” That's how Mustang head coach Noel Johnson summed up playing inside CMU's Brownson Arena Monday night.
 
At tip off it was once again, Kelsey Sigl's reach that would hand the Mavericks the first possession of the game. The Mavericks however were not able to beat the shot clock, handing the ball, and the first points of the game to the Mustangs.

Katrina Selsor would answer the Mustangs opening three, with a deep three of her own. A drive down the court from Christen Lopez dumping it off to Kelsey Sigl would see the Mavericks next points come off Sigl's layup.
 
Coming into the championship bout, the defensive minded Mavericks knew they would have to keep control of the Mustangs offense, especially after watching the Mustangs put 91 points on Tarleton State Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals. Kirsti Degelia who was coming off a 20 point game two nights earlier in the semi final game against Metro State. Degelia led the Mustangs in scoring in the first half with a respectable 10 points.  Shatoia Gober made her presence felt early on as she racked up five rebounds, three defensive and two offensive while scoring nine points.  

“I was just ready for the game”. Shatoia said after the game. “I was just trying to contribute”.
 
Halfway through the first half of the game, the Mavericks offense found a spark, or at least a hole in the Mustang defense. The Mavericks went on a run, bringing the Mustangs deficit to only one. At the same time, the Mustangs hit a rough patch. Nearly a four minute long rough patch, as the Mustangs went scoreless for three and a half minutes.
 
With six and a half minutes remaining in the first half, Katrina Selsor hit a deep three that ignited the Maverick offense, crowd and gave CMU its first lead since three minutes into the half. Bruna Deichmann hit a layup to grow the Mavs lead to three. Deichmann would end the half with 11 points.  
 
As the last minute and a half clicked off the clock, each team would travel down the court, take shots and miss. Both teams headed to the locker room tied at 31.
 
Perhaps the most surprising stat of the first half was the somewhat silencing of Sharaya Selsor. Selsor was kept from scoring a single point in the first half, and had zero rebounds to her name. Selsor had 28 points in the first two games of the tournament, 14 in each game. 
 
The second half would open with Andrea Carter of the Mustangs scoring the first points of the second half after both Katrina Selsor, then Kelsey Sigl rimmed wide open threes. Shatoia Gober's layup would put the Mustangs on top by four.
 
A Sigl layup coupled with Effo Baker going two for two at the foul line would put the Mavs even with the Mustangs. Seconds later, Sigl intercepted a Mustangs pass, who passed it to a hustling Sharaya Selsor who hit the jumper to give the Mavs the lead back.
 
Bruna Deichmann continued to have a stellar night as the game wore on. Deichmann passed her season high total in scoring before halfway through the second half. The Mustangs were having a difficult time keeping track of where the Brazilian native was on the floor nearly all game.  Deichmann finished the night with a career high 21 points.

“I just didn't want to leave for spring break” Deichmann joked after the game about continuing her season. “I knew how tough the game was going to be, that's how I like to play”.
 
A series of highly questionable calls at the MSU end of the court led to two good free throws by Mustang Dianna Jones. Kelsey Sigl and the Mavericks answered back to tie then take a two point lead with under nine minutes to play.
 
What Sharaya Selsor lacked offensively Monday night, she made up defensively. Selsor third steal of the night came deep in MSU territory. The ensuing mass to Bruna Deichmann resulted in the Mavericks taking a one point lead with just under four minutes remaining in the game.  The basket also marked Deichmann's twentieth point of the game.
 
As the minutes wound down inside Brownson Arena the volume level only rose. The Mustangs began showing signs of tiring. The Mustangs did not however show a lack of accuracy at the foul line. Kirsti Degelia hit both her free throws bringing the Mavs lead to one. Sharaya Selsor scored when it mattered, like seconds later when she hit a layup to give the Mavs a three point lead.
 
With 3.9 seconds remaining, Andrea Carter had two free throws to make. Carter banked the first one cutting the lead to two, the second one went in as well. Katrina Selsor inbounded the ball to sister Sharaya who was immediately fouled. Selsor's two free throws were good, giving the Mavericks a three point lead.

Bruna Deichmann going one for two at the line after being fouled with six tenths of a second left was more than necessary for the Mavericks to clinch the game. Half a second after the Mustangs inbounded the ball the final horn blew and the Mavericks were champions.  
 
Katrina Selsor and Kelsey Sigl ended the night being named to the South Central all tournament team, with Sigl being named the tournament outstanding player. Selsor ended the championship game with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Sigl finished her career as a Maverick at home leading the team with 24 points and six rebounds.  
 
“To go undefeated our senior year, and with this group of girls, I feel blessed” Kelsey Sigl said.
 
The Mavericks will travel to San Antonio Texas next week to play in the division two elite eight. The Mavericks will face the Dowling Golden Lions in the first round.
 
“We'll worry about them tomorrow” Coach Wagner joked.