LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Despite being outscored in both the third and fourth quarter Colorado Mesa (18-3, 14-1) outlasted Colorado Christian (5-16, 5-9) 61-56 Saturday night inside the CCU Event Center. Three of the Mavs starters scored in double figures to help the team improve to 14-1 in conference play and remain at the top of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.

Daniella Turner led the Mavericks in scoring for the second consecutive night with 17 points and was followed by Kylyn Rigsby who recorded 16 points. Kelsey Siemons added 13 points with more than half her points coming from beyond the arc as she drained three three-pointers.

The Mavs shot 45.7 percent (21-of-46) from the field, 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from the three-point line, and 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the free-throw line.

The Cougars began the game with a 4-0 lead and the game was tied twice before the Mavericks outscored the Cougars 13-4 to gain a 19-10 lead after the opening quarter. The Mavericks continued their lead throughout the second quarter and extended it by double digits at the break, 35-18.

Rigsby opened up the third quarter with a jumper that was followed by two three-pointers from Siemons to give the Mavericks their largest lead of the game 43-22 with 6:47 left to play in the third quarter. From then on, the Cougars outscored the Mavericks 15-2 to get within single digits entering the final stretch of the game, 45-37

Turner drained a three ball to open up the fourth quarter and Sydni Brandon knocked down a free throw to extend the lead back to double digits before the Cougars went on a run 9-2 and got within five points. Rigsby knocked down a three-pointer with 3:04 remaining to relieve the pressure and knocked down another one with less than a minute to play to extend the lead 57-48.

The Mavericks gave up two three-pointers to the Cougars but Brandon was sent to the free throw line three times in the last 30-seconds to help secure the win. Brandon was 4-of-6 down the stretch and finished the night with eight points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The Cougars shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the field, 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from the three-point line, 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from the line, and were led by Sam Nunez who recorded 18 points.

Up Next

The Mavericks will return home to Brownson Arena next weekend for games against Westminster and Dixie State on Feb 7 and Feb 8. Friday's game against Westminster is the Winter Whiteout Game presented by Coco-Cola.