Denver, Colo. – In a game with nine lead changes and eight ties, Daniella Turner recorded 27 points to lift the Colorado Mesa Mavericks over Regis University, 63-57 Friday night inside the Regis Field House. The Mavericks improved to 17-3 overall and 13-1 in conference while the Rangers dropped to 7-13 overall and 5-9 in RMAC games.
The Mavericks are now 6-2 on the road this season.
Turner recorded a career high 13 field goals in tonight's contest and was just two points shy of tying a career high. The Boca Raton, Fla. native shot 52.0 percent from the field while recording a career high three steals and tying her career high in rebounds with seven. The Mavs recorded 33 points off the bench with 27 coming from Turner who is the Mavericks leading scorer and has come off the bench in every game this season.
The Mavericks shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the field, 15.8 percent (3-of-19) from the three-point line, and 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the free throw line.
The Rangers were led by Whitney Jacob who recorded a double-double posting 18 points and 15 rebounds. The Mavs limited the Rangers to 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from beyond, and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the line.
After a slow start Regis was the first to score after nearly four minutes had run off the clock. The Rangers scored once more before a Elly Walters layup put the Mavs on the board. The teams exchanged baskets before a Turner bucket tied the score 8-8 with under two minutes to play. The Rangers scored in the paint to go up two, but committed a foul on Tori Catlett who recorded two free throws to tie the game 10-10 at the end of the first.
The score was tied four times in the second quarter and neither team held more than a two point lead untill Regis recorded the final four points of the quarter to hold a 24-20 lead entering halftime.
To begin the third quarter Kelsey Siemons knocked down the first three-pointer of the game for the Mavericks to get them within one, but was followed by a jumper from the Rangers. The Mavericks turned the ball over before Sophie Anderson stole the ball back which resulted in a layup from Sierra McNicol and a jumper from Siemons to take a 27-26 lead with 7:34 remaining in the quarter. The lead lasted less than 20 seconds before Regis scored six consecutive points to take a 32-27 lead.
McNicol grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a layup to strike an 8-0 run that gave the Mavericks a 35-32. Regis got within one point two times before the quarter was ended by a three-pointer from Turner with 3 seconds remaining on the clock to give the Mavericks a 44-41 lead entering the final quarter.
Regis tied the game with a three-pointer to begin the fourth quarter but was answered by a jumper from Walters. Both teams exchanged baskets and the Mavericks never gave up a lead even though the Rangers got within one point on two different occasions. The Mavs pulled away in the final three minutes outscoring the Ranger 12-8. In those final three minutes Kylyn Rigsby knocked down a three-pointer to extend the lead to nine, 58-49 and the team went 5-of-6 from the free throw line to secure their 14th RMAC win.
Sydni Brandon was perfect from the free-throw (6-of-6) and recorded four assists and eight points tonight.
Tomorrow Night
The Mavericks will close out the weekend against Colorado Christian Saturday night in the CCU Event Center at 5 pm. The Cougars enter tomorrow's game with a 6-14 overall record and a 6-8 conference record.
