GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The RMAC-leading Colorado Mesa Mavericks (20-3, 16-1 RMAC) will host Colorado Christian (8-15, 8-9 RMAC) and Regis University (10-13, 8-9 RMAC) this weekend in their final home games of the regular season. Friday's game will tipoff at 5:30 pm against Colorado Christian and Saturday's game will began at 5:30 pm against Regis University, both inside Brownson Arena.
Live stream and live stats can be found in the links provided above.
All About the Mavs
With a 16-1 conference record the Mavericks sit in first place of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings. In their last outing the Mavericks defeated Westminster and Dixie State University.
Against Dixie State, Taylor Wagner recorded his sixth 20-win season in just eight years as head coach at Colorado Mesa. This is now back-to-back seasons the Mavericks have recorded 20 wins which has not happened since 2015.
Wagner has totaled an impressive 188-44 record during his tenure and a 145-32 RMAC record.
The Mavericks continue to lead the nation in scoring defense (47.3) and rank fifth nationally in field goal defense (32.9).
As the starting point guard, Sydni Brandon leads the conference in steals (64) and assists-to-turnover ratio (2.5). The Grand Junction, Colo. native has recorded 99 assists this weekend and has 294 assists on her career.
Kelsey Siemons, who has recorded over half her points this season from the three-point line, ranks third in the conference for three-point field goal percentage (43.2) and leads the conference in blocked shots (37).
Boca Raton, Fla. native Daniella Turner leads the Mavs in scoring by averaging 15.7 points, which ranks sixth in the conference for points per game. This season Turner has led the Mavericks in scoring 12 times and has recorded over 20 points in nine of those games.
As the best rebounder on the team, Sierra McNicol is averaging 6.1 per game. The South Jordan, Utah native has led the Mavericks in rebounding nine times and is averaging 6.2 points per game.
Kylyn Rigsby is averaging 9.7 points per game and has recorded the second most-three pointers on the team (41). She is grabbing down 2.3 rebounds per game and has recorded the second most assists on the team (45).
The Mavericks are shooting 39.9 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from beyond, and 60.8 percent from the free throw line to average 61.9 points per game.
RMAC Player of the Week
on Monday (Feb 10) Sydni Brandon earned the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season.
Brandon led the Mavs in rebounding and steals over the 2-0 weekend against Westminster and Dixie State. She recorded a career high 20 points in a comeback win against Dixie State. Brandon's 20 points and 15 rebounds against Dixie State is her second double-double of the season.
She averaged 8.5 rebounds and 15.5 points this weekend. 14 of her 17 total rebounds came from the defensive end. Brandon also stole the ball four times against Dixie State.
National Rankings
For the fourth consecutive week the Mavericks have been ranked in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. After entering the poll four weeks ago at No. 22 the Mavs have reached their highest rank of the season at to No. 19 in this week's poll which was released on Feb 11.
The WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll Committee is composed of one head coach from each of the 23 NCAA Division II conferences.
The Mavericks improved to No.13 in this week's Women's Basketball Division II Media Poll which was releases on Feb 11.
In the South-Central Regional Poll the Mavs improved to No. 2 after being ranked No. 3 last week.
Scouting Colorado Christian
The Cougars are 8-9 in conference with an 8-15 overall record. They enter this weekend on a two game win streak after defeating Fort Lewis and Adams State in their last outing.
The Mavericks defeated CCU 61-56 earlier this season and own a 10-8 overall record against the Cougars. In the last five matchups the Mavericks are 4-1. The Cougars are led by Sam Nunez who is averaging 12.8 points per game and Taylor Ferris who is averaging 10.0 points per game. The leading rebounder, Lourdes Gonzales, is averaging 6.3 per game.
The Cougars are shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from the three-point line, and 62.8 percent from the free throw line to average 58.9 points per game.
Scouting Regis
The Ranger enter the weekend with a 10-13 overall record and a 8-9 conference record while on a three game win streak. Regis will face Western Friday night in Gunnison, Colo. before traveling to Grand Junction for Saturday night's showdown.
The Mavericks are 11-9 against the Rangers dating back to 2000 and have won the previous three matchups which includes two road wins.
Earlier this season on Jan 31, 2020 the Mavericks defeated the Ranger 63-57 in Denver, Colo.
Whitney Jacobs averaged 9.8 rebounds per game as the RMAC's best rebounder and is averaging 13.3 points per game to lead the Rangers.
The Rangers are shooting 36.9 percent from the field, 29.5 percent from the three-point line and 71.2 percent from the free throw line to average 62.6 points per game.
Up Next
The Mavericks will wrap up the regular season with three straight road contest before the RMAC Tournament. On Feb 21 and Feb 22, the Mavericks will play Fort Lewis College and Adams State, respectively. The final game of the RMAC season will be against Western Colorado on Feb 28 in Gunnison, Colo.
