GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The Colorado Mesa Mavericks defeated Fort Lewis College 78-53 and improved to an 18-2 record in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play Friday night in Brownson Arena. 15 different Mavericks saw the court in tonight's win and four different Mavs recorded double-digits points while Natalie Bartle led the way with 22 points which was just three shy of tying her career-high.

Sydni Brandon was a just short of a triple-double recording 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

As a team the Mavericks shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field and 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from the three-point line. They connected on seven of nine free throws good enough to record 77.8 percent from the line.

As for the Skyhawks they shot 30.2 percent (16-of-53) from the field and 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from the three-point line. They shot 65.0 percent (13-of-20) from the charity stripe. Tanisha Begay led the way for Fort Lewis recording 19 points while Alyssa Yocky grabbed down seven rebounds. The Skyhawks fell to 7-13 in the conference and 11-15 overall.

The Mavericks won the opening tip and never gave up a lead the entire game. Kelsey Siemons went 3-of-3 from the three-point line in the first five minutes of the game to get the Mavs out to a 12-5 lead. The Mavericks shot 57.1 percent from the field and three-point line to hold a 22-14 lead after quarter one.

The Skyhawks started the second quarter on 6-0 run which was their best run of the game and forced a CMU timeout with 6:12 remaining in the first half. Coming out of the timeout the Mavericks hit back-to-back three pointers and got the lead extended to ten points, 30-20. Although the Skyhawks hit the final shot of the half the Mavs maintained a 35-28 lead entering the break.

Jaylyn Duran drained back-to-back shots to begin the third quarter. Starting at the 4:59 tick Bartle hit three treys while Kylyn Rigsby knocked down one to give the Mavs a 50-35 lead. Bartle knocked down two more field goals and Sophie Anderson tipped in a last second shot to lead Fort Lewis 60-38 entering the final stretch of the game.

The Mavs reached their largest lead in the fourth quarter with 5:08 remaining in the game when they led by 27 points, 70-43. Daniella Turner knocked down the final field goal of the game and the Mavs and Skyhawks reached a final score of 78-53.

Next Up

The Mavericks will face Adams State tomorrow night in Brownson Arena at 5:30 pm. The Grizzlies of ASU lost 45-69 Friday night against Western.

Before Friday night games Westminster was tied with Colorado Mesa for first place in the RMAC, but after The Griffins loss to Colorado Christian tonight they now are one game behind the Mavs with a 17-3 record RMAC record. With two more games remaining in the season the Mavs can clinch at least a share of the RMAC title with a win tomorrow night over Adams State.