GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa women's basketball team opened the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule with a 69-46 win over rival Western State on Tuesday evening. The Mavericks improved to 7-0 on the season and held their sixth straight opponent under 50 points.
 
The Mountaineers led after the first quarter 15-14 after getting nine points from their bench and having an 8-4 edge on points in the paint.
 
After that, it was all Colorado Mesa.
 
The Mavericks outscored Western State 21-8 in the second quarter and finished off the half on a 12-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Sydni Brandon at the top of the key. Colorado Mesa led 35-23 at the break.
 
Colorado Mesa took a 19-10 edge in the third quarter and closed the game out with a 15-13 fourth quarter.
 
Jaylyn Duran led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. She scored 11 of her 21 points in the first half of action.
 
Erin Reichle finished with 14 points and seven assists while Ma'ata Epenisa had 18 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double. The nine rebounds ties a career-high for Epenisa.
 
Karina Brandon finished with a career-high nine rebounds.
 
Junior transfer Sydni Brandon came off the bench and filled the stat sheet. She had five points, two rebounds, four assists, five steals and a block.
 
Colorado Mesa shot 46.3 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three-point range. It was the second straight game the Mavericks shot better than 45 percent from the field. They were also 73.3 percent (11-for-15) from the free-throw line.
 
Western State shot just 36.4 percent from the field.
 
The Mavericks will close out the opening week of RMAC action on Thursday with a matchup against Westminster at 5pm in Brownson Arena.
 
**NOTE: Head coach Taylor Wagner improved to 10-0 all-time against Western State.