GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa Maverick women's basketball team (6-2, 2-0) will continue Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play against MSU Denver and Chadron this Friday and Saturday. The game against MSU Denver on Dec 13 will be featured in the Division II Basketball Showcase and shown on Facebook Live (facebook.com/ncaadivisionii) and Twitter (@NCAADII). The game will begin at 5:35 pm inside Brownson Arena and can also be found on the RMAC Network. On Dec 14 the Mavericks will take on Chadron at 5:30 pm.
The Mavericks are 2-0 in conference play after defeating UCCS and Colorado School of Mines in the opening weekend. The Mavs have now began RMAC play 2-0 for the sixth consecutive season.
All About the Mavs
The Mavericks are currently leading the nation in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense. This season they have limited opponents to 45.5 points per game and just 29.3 percent from the field. Sydni Brandon and Kelsey Siemons are big components of that defense. Brandon leads the conference in steals (28) and Siemons leads the conference in blocked shots (13).
Siemons is also a threat from deep as she ranks ninth across all DII women's basketball players for three-point field goal percentage. The Tucson, Ariz. native is shooting at a 51.2 percent clip from downtown and has knocked down 21 treys. Siemons has knocked down at least one three-pointer in all of the Mavericks' games this season and recorded a block in all but two games.
From the field Sierra McNicol leads the team in shooting at 76.5 percent. The South Jordan, Utah native has recorded six starts this season and played in each of the Mavs' eight games.
Player of the Week Sweep
Colorado Mesa Women's Basketball has sweep this week's RMAC Player of the Week awards announced Monday by conference officials. For the first time in her career junior Daniella Turner was named this week's Offensive Player of the Week. Senior Sydni Brandon has earn the Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.
Turner led the Mavs in scoring over the road sweep averaging 26.5 points per game. The Boca Raton, Fla. native recorded back-to-back career nights to begin RMAC play. Against UCCS she recorded 24 points and then broke that career high against Colorado School of Mines scoring 29 points.
Brandon has now earned Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks. This week the Grand Junction, Colo. native averaged 5.0 steals, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 points. Brandon went 6-of-7 from the free-throw line and grabbed down a total of eight defensive rebounds. Against UCCS she tied a career high six steals
Regional Ranking
The Mavericks reentered this week's regional rankings at No. 8 per the D2SIDA women's basketball week 4 regional polls which was released on Dec 9. Six sports information directors from the Lone Star Conference and three from the RMAC vote in the South Central Region poll.
Around the conference, Westminster ranks No. 4 and Fort Lewis Ranks No. 6. Dixie State and Western Colorado are receiving votes.
Scouting the Roadrunners
MSU Denver enters the weekend with a 3-5 overall record and on a three game win streak. Like the Mavs they began the conference season 2-0 after defeating Regis (79-74) and Colorado Christian (58-54).
The Mavs have traveled to Denver, Colo. for the three previous matchups and gone 2-1. Dating back to 1990 the Mavericks and Roadrunners are split, 10-10 overall.
The Roadrunners are led by Mariah Schroeder who is averaging 9.4 points per game. On the glass Jaela Richardson is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game. From the field Gabi Lucero is shooting 50.0 percent coming off the bench in seven games.
The Roadrunners have started the same five players in their first eight games and are coached by Tanya Haave who played for Hall of Fame coach Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee. She finished her career as the Lady Vols' all-time scoring leader, and she still ranks 10th.
Scouting the Eagles
The Eagles are 3-8 and 1-1 in RMAC play. In their opening conference games the Eagles lost to Colorado Christian (69-56) and defeated Regis (69-65).
The Eagles are averaging 59.9 points per game and shooting 36.4 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from the three-point line. Taryn Foxen leads the team in scoring averaging 12.3 points per game and Melisa Kadic is the team's leading rebounder with 4.4 per game. Jori Peters has recorded 48 assists to lead the Eagles through 11 games.
The Mavericks currently have a 15 game win streak against the Eagles and have not lost to them since the 2009-2010 season.
The Eagles are coached by Janet Raymer who is coaching in her fourth season.
Up Next
The Mavs will play Western Colorado on Dec. 20 inside Brownson Arena.
