GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa women's basketball team will travel to UCCS and Colorado School of Mines this weekend to begin the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season. As reigning RMAC Champions the Mavericks were picked to repeat in this year's coaches poll after receiving nine first place votes.
They will begin the defense of their title in Colorado Springs, Colo. against UCCS on Dec 6 at 5:30 pm inside Gallogy Event Center. The following day the Mavericks will travel to Golden, Colo. and take on Colorado School of Mines at 5:30 pm in the Lockridge Arena.
The Mavericks begin the RMAC season with a 4-2 overall record after completing the non-conference schedule and enter the weekend on a two game winning streak.
Live streaming of the game can be found on the RMAC Network. Live statistics will also be available. Links to both can be accessed above.
All about the Mavs
Led by Kelsey Siemons who is averaging 14.8 points per game the Mavericks are averaging 66.8 points per game. As a team, they are shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 28.9 percent from the three-point line. From three-point range, Siemons leads the team in percentage (54.3 percent) and is second best among conference players. Her 3.17 treys per game is ranked in the top 25 of Division II women's basketball players.
From the charity stripe, the Mavs are shooting 67.8 percent.
Sierra McNicol leads the team in field goal percentage (75.0 percent) and has started the previous two games for the Mavs. She is averaging 8.2 points per game and 6.5 rebounds through six games.
Sydni Brandon has recorded the second most steals in the conference at 18 and is averaging 3.0 steals per game along with her 5.2 rebounds per game, 6.0 points per game, and 3.8 assists per game.
The Mavericks lead the conference in defense only giving up 45.5 points per game to opponents. This year's team leads the nation in defensive field goal percentage (28.7) and is ranked second nationally for fewest points per game.
Thanksgiving Classic Recap
The Mavericks swept opponents in this year's Holiday Inn Airport Thanksgiving after defeating University of the Southwest (N.M.) and Montana Western.
Under the direction of head coach Taylor Wagner, the Mavs have never lost a game in their home tournament and are a perfect 18-0. That streak was nearly ruined in the Montana Western game, as the Mavericks were down 13 points in the first half before outscoring the Bulldogs 41-24 in the second half to complete the comeback.
On Nov 29, Wagner recorded his 100th home win inside Brownson Arena after defeating the University of the Southwest 92-25. He now owns a 101-9 home record.
Defensive Player of the Week
On Monday, Sydni Brandon was named this week's RMAC Defensive Player of the Week. In the Thanksgiving Classic, she averaged 8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 5.5 assists per game.
She recorded 11 defensive rebounds and nine steals over the two games that included a season high five steals against Montana Western.
The Grand Junction native was nearly perfect from the free-throw line knocking down 92.3 percent of her shots over the two games. Against Montana Western, she was 10-of-10 from the line and hit six straight free throws in the final minutes to complete the comeback.
Brandon earns the honor for just the second time in her career and the first time this season.
Scouting UCCS
The Mountain Lions were picked to finish the 2019-2020 RMAC season in tenth place and have put together a 1-5 season prior to conference season. They enter Friday's game on a four game losing streak dating back to Nov 15.
Two of their losses this season come from WBCA Top 25 teams, West Texas and Lubbock Christian.
The Mountain Lions are shooting 35.2 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from beyond the three-point line.
The Mountain Lions currently have three players averaging double-digits. Abby Feickert leads the team with 11.2 points per game while Madi Gaibler (10.3 ppg) and Chelsea Pearson (10.2 ppg) followed close behind. Gaibler leads the team in rebounds averaging 5.0 per game.
The Mavs have defeated the Mountain Lions in their previous two match ups. When playing on the road the Mavericks are 4-4 against UCCS and at home, they are a perfect 8-0 dating back to 1990.
Scouting Colorado School of Mines
The Orediggers earned one first place vote in this year's preseason coaches' poll and were picked to finish the season third. They enter the weekend with a 3-2 record and on a three game winning streak.
As a team, the Orediggers are performing at a 39.5 percent clip from the field and a shooting 29.0 percent from the three-point line.
Denali Pinto, who leads the conference in scoring, is averaging 20.4 points per game.
They played against UCCS on Nov 30 in their first RMAC game of the season and fell 82-77 inside Lockridge Arena.
The Mavericks have defeated the Orediggers in the previous six matchups dating back to the 2016-2017 season. The last four of those contests have been inside Brownson Arena.
Up Next
The Mavericks will return home the following weekend for games against MSU Denver and Chadron State. On Dec 13 the Mavericks will tipoff against MSUD at 5:30 pm inside Brownson Arena. The following day the Mavericks will take on Chadron State at 5:30 pm.
