GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - After an 8-1 start to the season the Mavericks will begin the new year in Brownson Arena on Friday and Saturday night against South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State University, respectively. Both games tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
This weekend head coach Taylor Wagner is seeking his 150th win. He currently owns 149 wins in just seven seasons as head coach. He has coached three teams to a first place finish in the RMAC and will look to earn his fourth this season as the Mavericks currently sit in first place.
After the opening weekends of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play the Colorado Mesa Mavericks have a perfect 5-0 record in conference play. They are accompanied atop the standings by Westminster who is also perfect in conference play.
Sydni Brandon is doing it all for the Mavericks as she leads the Mavericks in rebounds (5.8), assists (3.9), and steals (2.0). She also contributes 4.7 points per game and has started every game this season for the Mavericks.
Duran's Dominating Senior Season
Senior Jaylyn Duran has been dominating within the RMAC and beyond. The Pueblo, Colo native leads the RMAC and is seventh in Women's DII at 24.2 points per game.
The senior is leading the conference and is among the best in the nation for multiple categories involving the three-point shot. She leads the nation in three-point field goals per game and leads the conference in both three-point field goals attempted and three-point field goals made on the season. She has drained 37 three-point field goals so far this season on 97 attempts.
After back-to-back 30 point performances in wins over MSU Denver and Chadron State on Dec 15 and 16 Duran was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week and USBWA DII Women's Basketball National Player of the Week. The USBWA has been selecting Division II players of the week since the 2014-15 season and this is the first USBWA National Player of the Week award received by a Maverick women's basketball player.
Duran's career high 32 points against Chadron State put her eight away from reaching the 1,000 career point mark which she is likely to reach this weekend in the Maverick's home arena.
Regional Rankings
As of Jan 1 the Colorado Mesa Mavericks are ranked No. 5 (up from No. 7) in the south central region moving ahead of both Black Hills State and Westminster.
Scouting South Dakota Mines
The Hardrockers enter Fridays contest with a 4-5 overall record and a 1-4 conference record. Their one conference victory comes from a 52-46 defeat over Adams State University on Dec 16.
Taylor Molstad leads the Hardrockers in points per game at 10.4 and is their only scorer averaging double digits.
The Mavericks and Hardrockers will take the court on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Brownson Arena.Â
Scouting Black Hills State
The Yellow Jackets of Spearfish, S.D. will play Western State Friday before entering Brownson Arena on Saturday night. They enter the weekend ranked No. 7 in the south central region and have an 8-1 overall record and 4-1 RMAC record which places them third in the RMAC.
Saturday game will be a meeting between two of the top teams in not only the RMAC but the region.
The Yellow Jackets have three players averaging double digits. The trio includes Morgan Ham (14.8) Julia Seamans (13.7) and Lyndzi Rich (10.6).
The Mavericks will look to redeem themselves from a 54-60 loss last year on Saturday night at 5:30 in Brownson Arena.
Looking Ahead
Following this weekend the Mavericks will hit the road for games against New Mexico Highlands and CSU Pueblo on Jan 11 and 12, respectively.
