GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa Mavericks (15-2, 11-0 RMAC) will hit the road this weekend for games in Utah after completing a four game homestand. The Mavs will travel to St. George, Utah for the first game of the weekend on Friday against Dixie State (12-5, 7-4 RMAC) before traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah for a nationally ranked matchup against No. 15 Westminster (15-2, 10-1 RMAC) on Saturday.
Friday's game will take place at the Burns Arena at 5:30 pm and Saturday's game will be in the Behnken Field House and set to tipoff at 5:30 pm.
Live stream and live stats can be found in the links provided above.
All About the Mavs
With a perfect conference record at 11-0 the Mavericks have extended their win streak to 13 games and accumulated a 15-2 overall record. In their most recent outing the Mavs defeated Adams State and Fort Lewis College.
Colorado Mesa continues to lead the nation in defensive field goal percentage (30.9 percent) and scoring defense (45.2 PPG). Sydni Brandon who leads the conference in steals (50) also leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.24). Brandon's 50 steals this season ranks No. 11 nationally against all division II women's basketball players.
Kelsey Siemons has recorded the most blocked shots among RMAC opponents with 29 to help contribute to the nation's best defensive.
Daniella Turner who leads the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game leads the conference in made field goals. She has knocked down 104 field goals so far this season at a 43.2 percent clip and has been named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week twice.
Kylyn Rigsby averages 9.3 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game, while Sierra McNicol averages 6.5 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game to lead the team. She recorded a career high 13 rebounds against Fort Lewis and has totaled 106 this season. Sophie Anderson averages 3.8 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game.
The Mavs are shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from the three-point line, and 66.2 percent from the free throw line to average 63.5 points per game.
Head coach Taylor Wagner is in eighth season at Colorado Mesa and has totaled a 183-43 record during his tenure
National Rankings
The Mavs entered the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 at No. 22 this week which was released on Jan 21. Prior to that the Mavericks were receiving votes in the previous two polls. This poll is composed of one head coach from each of the 23 NCAA Division II conferences.
The Mavericks improved to No. 11 in this week's Women's Basketball Division II Media Poll released on Jan 21. In the South Central Regional Poll the Mavs jumped to No 2. Each region has six representatives that make up the regional poll. The national poll has two voters from each of the eight regions.
Scouting Dixie State
The Trailblazers enter the weekend with a 12-5 overall record and a 7-4 RMAC record. DSU is shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from the three-point line, and 70.2 percent from the free throw line to average 68.9 points per game.
Ali Franks leads the team with 13.8 points per game while Chesney Stevens leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game.
The Mavs are 6-3 all time against the Trailblazers dating back to the 2008-2009 season. The Mavericks have defeated DSU in the previous six matchups
Scouting No.15 Westminster
The Griffins sit one spot behind the Mavericks in the RMAC standing with a 10-1 RMAC record and a 15-2 overall record.
The Mavericks are 6-3 all time against the Griffins with a 2-2 away record. Last season the Mavs split with the Griffins during the regular season and defeated them in the RMAC Tournament Championship game in their third meeting of the year.
Westminster averages 69.8 points per game which is the best scoring offense in the RMAC while Colorado Mesa limits opponents to 45.2 points per game which is the best defense in the RMAC.
Colorado Mesa and Westminster are number one and number two in scoring margin with 18.3 points per game for the Mavericks and 10.5 points per game for Westminster. The Griffins also lead the conference in field goal percentage (46.5) while CMU has the best defensive field goal percentage (30.9).
The Griffins are led by Mariah Martin who averages 16.6 points per game as the third best scorer in the RMAC. Kaitlin Toluono averages 7.9 rebounds per game to lead the Griffins.
Up Next
The Mavericks will stay on the road next weekend and travel to Denver for games against Regis and Colorado Christian University on Jan 31 and Feb 1.
