In celebration of Thanksgiving the Mavericks are hosting three women's basketball teams for their Holiday Inn- Thanksgiving Classic. The Mavericks will play two of the three teams with games on Friday and Saturday. Friday's contest is a match up against Arizona Christian (5-1) that will take place at 5pm. The following day the Mavericks will play against Western New Mexico University (2-0) at noon.

The Mavericks are coming off a 1-1 season opening weekend that took place last weekend at the Dixie State Tournament. They defeated Saint Martin's University 66-54 and lost to Western Oregon University 64-69.

The Holiday Inn-Airport Thanksgiving Classic will also include men's basketball games. The Maverick men's basketball team will play against Graceland and Fisher College on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Western State will also join the classic for a pair of games.

The Season So Far

The Mavericks split their opening weekend going 1-1 to start the season. This weekend will be the home opener for the 2018-2019 Mavericks.

Jaylyn Duran is leading the team in points per game averaging 26.5 over the first two games this season. The senior form Pueblo, Colo. is not only leading the Mavericks but the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as well. The next best scorer in the RMAC is Colorado Christian's Jordan Baer who is averaging 21.0 points per game in four games played.

Sydni Brandon the Grand Junction product is also leading the RMAC in rebounds per game at 10.5. She grabbed 17 defensive rebounds and four offensive rebounds between two games.

Thanksgiving Tradition

The last time the Mavericks were defeated in their Thanksgiving Classic was during 2010-2011 season against Dixie State who was a PacWest team at the time before entering the RMAC in 2016. After the loss in 2010 the Mavericks have gone on to win 15 straight Thanksgiving Classic games.

Since joining the Mavericks in 2013 head coach Taylor Wagner has never lost a Thanksgiving Classic game having a perfect 12-0 record.

About Arizona Christian

The Firestorm will enter Friday's game already having played six games. They have won five of their six and are averaging 86.5 points per game.  In there one loss of the season they scored 87 points but gave up 100. They scored in the 100s one time this year in a 106-105 overtime win against Embry-Riddle. They are led by Courtney Christmas is averaging 27.8 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per contest.  

About Western New Mexico University

The Mustangs of Western New Mexico have played against two RMAC schools prior to this Thanksgiving Classic and were victorious is each of them. They defeated Fort Lewis College 70-68 and rolled past New Mexico Highlands 50-34. The Mustangs will battle against Western State on Friday prior to their matchup with the Mavericks on Saturday at 5 pm.

About Western State

The Mountaineers will open their season at the Maverick's Thanksgiving Classic after two exhibition games against University of Wyoming and Air Force Academy both of which they lost. The Mavericks and Mountaineers will not meet during the Thanksgiving Classic but soon after in both team's opening game in the RMAC regular season. They will meet Dec 1 in Gunnison, Colo at 5pm.

Holiday Inn- Thanksgiving Classic Schedule

*women are in bold

Friday:

                W Western State vs. Western New Mexico 12pm

                M Western State vs. Fisher 2pm

                W Colorado Mesa vs. Arizona Christian 5 pm

                M Colorado Mesa vs Graceland 7 pm

Saturday:

                W Western State vs. Arizona Christian 12pm

                M Western State vs. Graceland 2pm

                W Colorado Mesa vs. Western New Mexico 5pm

                M Colorado Mesa vs. Fisher College 7 pm