WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Colorado Mesa women's basketball team outscored Midwestern State 24-17 in the fourth quarter to pick up the 71-64 win at Ligon Coliseum in their season opener.
 
The two teams were locked in a see-saw battle from start to finish with neither team leading by more than nine points. Colorado Mesa's biggest lead came with 10 seconds left in the first quarter when they led 20-12 after a Sydni Brandon layin while Midwestern State's biggest lead came with 9:54 to play in the third quarter at 40-31.
 
Colorado Mesa took their final lead of the afternoon with 4:26 to play when Kelli Van Tassel drained a three-pointer from the left wing to make it 62-60.
 
Erin Reichle, the Mavericks top returning scorer from a year ago, finished the game with six points. All of those points came from the free-throw line and all came in the final 52 seconds of the contest.
 
Maverick Jaylyn Duran led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-22 shooting from the field. Duran drilled six three-pointers in the game and added three assists and two rebounds.
 
Ma'ata Epenisa added 17 points and newcomer Karina Brandon finished with 11 points and six rebounds in her Maverick debut.
 
Colorado Mesa took advantage in the paint where they outscored the Mustangs 32-18. They also outrebounded the Mustangs 37-29.
 
The Mavericks moved to 3-0 all-time against the Mustangs with the two previous meetings coming in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Colorado Mesa will close out the Ashbrook Classic with a game against Lone Star Conference foe Cameron at Ligon Coliseum.