GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa jumped out to a 22-12 first quarter lead in an 82-38 win over Bethany College in the Holiday Inn-Airport Thanksgiving Classic on Friday evening in Brownson Arena. The Mavericks improved their record to 2-1 on the season.
 
Bryanna led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. She made three of her four three-point baskets in the first quarter.
 
Colorado Mesa shot a season-best 52.3 percent (34-for-65) from the field and limited the Swedes to 24.5 percent (13-for-53) from the field.
 
The Mavericks limited Bethany to just nine points in the third quarter and six points in the fourth. They forced 11 turnovers and limited Bethany to just 20 percent shooting in the second half.
 
CMU held the rebounding margin, grabbing 52 rebounds including 16 on the offensive glass. The offensive rebounds led to 20 second chance points for the Mavericks.
 
Ma'ata Epenisa had 13 points in her home debut while Jaylyn Duran finished the night with 11 points.
 
Freshman Maja Beier scored eight points and led all rebounders with nine boards in eight minutes of action.
 
Everyone in uniform played for the Mavericks and received at least seven minutes of action.
 
The one low spot for the Mavericks came from the free-throw line where they shot just 44 percent from the line and didn't make a free-throw in the fourth quarter (0-for-6).
 
Colorado Mesa will close out the Holiday Inn-Airport Thanksgiving Classic against former RMAC foe Western New Mexico at 5pm in Brownson Arena.