LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa Mavericks record fell to 19-3 and 16-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play after a 66-51 defeat given by Colorado Christian. The Cougars fourth quarter 25 point run was too much for the Mavericks 12 points scored in the final quarter.
As a team the Mavs shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the field and 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from the three-point line. The Mavs got to the line 16 times this game and converted on 12 of them for a 75.0 percent free-throw percentage. Sydni Brandon recorded her first double-double of the season and second of her career with 12 rebounds and 13 points. She came up with four steals and dished out another four assist on the night. Jaylyn Duran tied Sydni Brandon with 13 points herself.
Colorado Christian shot 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from the field and 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from the three-point line. They went 16-of-18 from the free throw line and shot 88.9 percent. They were led three players who recorded double digit including Davenport Brantley who led all scorers with 19 points.
To start the game the Mavericks got out to a 6-0 lead after back-to-back treys from Duran and Kelsey Siemons. The Cougars tied the game 8-8 with just under six minutes to play and then took their first lead of the game with 1:38 remaining as they led 11-10. After the first ten minutes of action the Mavericks were down 12-13.
Natalie Bartle hit a pair of free-throws to start the second quarter before CCU went on a 7-0 run to extend their lead 20-14 with seven minutes remaining. The Mavericks answered with a 7-2 run for themselves and tied the game 22-22. The Mavs and Cougars settled the score at 24-24 as they both entered their locker rooms.
The Mavericks managed to lead throughout the third quarter and saw their largest lead with 1:11 remaining in the game after Bartle scored seven straight points for the Mavericks and extend their lead 41-34. The Mavericks kept that seven point margin to enter the final stretch of the game with a 43-36 lead.
The Mavericks were outscored 11-4 in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter and the Cougars tied the game 47-47 with under five minutes to play. They took the lead with back-to-back three pointers from CCU and the Mavs found themselves down 49-55 with 1:13 remaining in the game. Forced to foul the Cougars went to the free-throw line six times in the final minute and finished each one to defeat the Mavericks 61-55.
Up Next
Colorado Mesa will face Regis University tomorrow afternoon at 3pm in the Regis Field House. The Ranger defeated Western State Colorado University 49-45 on Friday night.
With this loss the Mavericks remain tied with Westminster for the first place position as the Griffins fell 53-62 at Fort Lewis College on Friday night. Both the Mavs and Westminster own a 16-2 conference record.
