GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Mavericks rolled passed Arizona Christian in their first game of the Holiday Inn Thanksgiving Classic. As a team the Mavericks shot 47.6% from the field and drained eight three pointers to surpass a 5-2 team 80-52. Jaylyn Duran led all scorers with 24 points and Daniella Turner finished with a career high 13 points while grabbing seven rebounds in her first career start.

How It Happened

The Mavericks scored the first basket and did not look back getting out to a 13-4 lead half way through the first quarter. Duran scored five of the 13 points to put the Mavericks up early in the game. They ended the first quarter with an 18-13 lead.

In the second quarter the Mavericks only outscored the Firestorm by two points but were still up 35-28 at halftime.

The Mavericks were steady throughout the game but it was in the third quarter that they put the Firestorm away for the remainder of the game. To open up the second half Kylyn Rigsby hit back-to-back threes and increased the Maverick's lead 41-32.

Duran followed with a jump shot of her own and Sierra McNichol increased the lead with a fast break layup that resulted in a three point play that she completed with a free throw.

Duran hit two more threes and Kelsey Siemons added a layup before the Mavericks forced Arizona Christian to call a time out. Following the timeout the Mavericks went on to score 11 more points and finished the third quarter leading 65-39.

Five different Mavericks scored during this ten minute period and the Mavericks outscored the Firestorm 30-11. During this quarter they shot 68.8% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.

During the fourth quarter the Mavericks found their largest lead of the game. With 7:54 remaining on the clock the Mavericks were up 70-41 with a 29 point lead. The Mavericks were consistent throughout the rest of the game and finished with a 28 points lead to win their second game of the season 80-52.

Mavericks Defense

The Maverick's defense limited a team who averages 87 points to only 52. The Firestorm's leading scorer who averaged 27 was held to 17 points. The Mavericks also limited this team to a 7.7 three point percentage and only gave up one three pointer all game.

Tomorrow's Opponent

The Mavericks will play Western New Mexico tomorrow at 5pm in Brownson Arena to conclude their Holiday Inn-Thanksgiving Classic. New Mexico Western lost to Western State 52-56 on Friday morning falling to a 2-1 record. Prior to the Maverick's game the Firestorm and Western State will play each other at noon.