GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The Colorado Mesa women's basketball program will return to Brownson Arena for games this weekend after completing a four game road stretch where they continued their perfect record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at 11-0. The Mavericks will tipoff against Dixie State on Friday night at 5:30 pm and against Westminster on Saturday night at 5:30 pm.
Saturday night's game will feature two of the top teams in the conference as they both currently sit perfect in RMAC contests.
The Mavs are 14-1 overall and have won their last 13 games. As a team they are shooting 41.1 percent (356-of-860) from the field and 33.7 percent (119-of-353) from three-point range.
As the best defenders in the RMAC they are limiting their opponents to 34.8 percent (249-of-716) from the field and 30.8 percent (203-of-282) from the three. They allow opponents to score just 51.3 points per game which ranks them fifth nationally among all Division II women's hoops programs.
This team is not only successful on defense but has success on offense as they lead the country in fewest turnovers (174). With few turnovers and a point guard who averages 4.46 assists per game the Mavs rank seventh national in assists-to-turnover ratio at 1.32.
As point guard Sydni Brandon owns a 3.94 assists-to-turnover ratio which puts her second best in the country. Jaylyn Duran leads the Mavericks offensively with 21.5 points per game which puts her first in the RMAC and fifteenth in the nation. Karina Brandon is shooting an efficient 46.3 percent from the field and averaging 7.5 points per game. Kelsey Siemons is shooting 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the three-point line and has knocked down the second most treys behind Duran. Kylyn Rigsby is the Maverick's second best scorer averaging 9.0 points per game.
Off the bench Katrina Chandler has attempted minimal three-pointers but leads the team in percentage at 42.9 percent (6-of-14). Six foot forward Tori Catlett has recorded the second most blocks (14) on the team behind Siemons (22).
National Attention
After entering the WBCA NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll as No. 23 last week the Mavericks have moved up to No. 20 as of Jan 22. This poll is composed of one head coach from each of the 24 NCAA Division II conferences.
For the D2SIDA Women's Basketball National Poll which was also released Jan 22 the Mavericks are ranked No. 13 and No. 1 in the South Central Region. They moved ahead of Angelo State and West Texas A&M to earn the No. 1 spot in the regional rankings.
For a look at both national rankings click on the links provided above.
Brandon Earns Defensive Player of the Week
For the third time this season the Mavericks have earned player of the week honors.
This week Sydni Brandon earned RMAC Defensive Player of the Week after putting up 11.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds. She totaled seven steals and two blocks. Brandon leads the Mavericks in rebounds averaging 6.8 per contest and has totaled 34 steals this season which also leads the team.
Jaylyn Duran has been named player of the week twice so far this season.
Scouting Dixie State
Dixie State holds a 9-6 overall record and sits tenth in the conference with a 5-6 record. They are led by three players who average double-digit scoring. Ali Frank (12.9 ppg), Mariah Martin (12.4 ppg), and Lisa VanCampen (10.1 ppg) all lead the Trailblazers in scoring.
Scouting Westminster
The Griffins of Westminster are the only other team in the RMAC with a perfect 11-0 record. They will face off with Western State on Friday night before traveling to Grand Junction, Colo. for a game in Brownson Arena that will begin at 5:30 pm on Saturday Jan 26.
The Griffins roster includes preseason player of the year Denise Gonzalez who is averaging 14.9 points per game. Hunter Krebs (14.0 ppg) and Olivia Elliss (10.9 ppg) are two other Griffin's averaging double-digits.
The Mavericks have won three of the last four games against the Griffins but are coming off a 56-75 loss that occurred last season in Salt Lake City.
Next Up
The Mavericks will remain at home next weekend for games against Regis and Colorado Christian. Friday's RMAC game will begin at 3:30 pm due to a full day of Maverick activities. The men's game will follow beginning at 5:30 pm and wrestling will top off the night begining at 7:30 pm against New Mexico Highlands University.
The next day on Feb 2 the Mavericks will take on Colorado Christian at 5:30 pm in Brownson Arena.
