GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa Mavericks will begin the New Year with games against South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hill State University. On Jan 3 the Mavs will face the Hardrockers at 5:30 pm at the King Center in Rapid City, SD and on Jan 4 the Mavs will tipoff at 4 pm against the Yellow Jackets in Spearfish, SD at the Donald E. Young Center.
Live stream and live stats can be found in the links provided above.
A Look at the Mavs
The Mavericks enter the weekend with a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 5-0 record in conference games. In their most recent outing on Dec 20 the Mavericks defeated the Western Mountaineers 44-36 and extended their win streak to seven games.
Colorado Mesa is led offensively by Daniella Turner who averages 16.1 points per game. In conference games alone the Florida native is averaging 23. 8 points per game to lead the conference. Junior Kelsey Siemons averages 10.6 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. She has recorded 23 blocks this season which leads the conference. Against Western Siemons recorded a career high seven blocks and earned her first RMAC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Kylyn Rigsby averages 8.5 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game, while Sierra McNicol averages 7.5 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. Senior Sydni Brandon directs the offense with a team high 4.5 assists per game and a conference leading 3.4 steals per game.
The Mavericks are shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 27.9 percent from the three-point line, and 65.7 percent from the free-throw line to average 64. 7 points per game.
The Maverick defense is leading the nation in field goal percentage defense (29.8 percent) and scoring defense (45.8 PPG). The Mavericks have limited opponents to under 50 points six times this season.
Scouting South Dakota Mines
The Hardrockers enter the weekend on a two game win streak. They sit tenth in the RMAC with a 2-3 conference record and a 4-5 overall record. The Hardrockers are shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 33.5 percent from the three-point line, and 60.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Ryan Weiss leads the team with 15.6 points per game and is shooting 51.9 percent from the field. She is also shooting above 50.0 percent from the three-point line and has made a team high 25 threes.
Anna Haugen of the South Dakota Mines leads the conference in rebounding at 10.9 per game.
The Mavs are 5-0 against the Hardrockers dating back to 2016.
Scouting Black Hills State
The Yellowjackets enter the weekend sitting in sixth place of the RMAC standings with a 3-2 conference record and a 6-4 overall record. They are led by Racquel Wientjes and Morgan Ham who average 15.8 and 14.9 points per game, respectively.
The Yellow Jackets average 66.4 points per game and are shooting 38.5 percent from the field, 29.8 percent from the three-point line, and 70.6 percent from the free-point line.
The Mavericks are 10-5 against BHSU dating back to 2012 and have won the previous two matchups.
Up Next
The Mavericks will return home to continue RMAC games against New Mexico Highlands and Colorado State University – Pueblo on Jan 10 and 11, respectively.
