GUNNISON, Colo. –In a matchup of the top two teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference the Colorado Mesa Mavericks (23-5, 19-3) fell to Western Colorado (20-6, 18-4), 59-52 Friday night inside Paul Wright Gymnasium.
Tonight's contest marked the final game of the regular season as the Mavericks will begin the RMAC Tournament next week on March 3 as the number one seed. They will host eighth seeded MSU Denver in a quarterfinal game. Game time is to be announced.
The Mavericks were led by Kylyn Rigsby who recorded a game high 19 points and was 7-of-14 from the field. She made five three-pointers and grabbed two rebounds.
Daniella Turner recorded her ninth consecutive double-figure scoring game and 20th this season. The Boca Raton, Fla. native is averaging a team high 15.5 points per game. Senior guard Sydni Brandon recorded a team high three steals while Kelsey Siemons grabbed down a team high five rebounds, four of which came on the offensive end.
The Mavericks shots 32.2 percent (19-of-59) from the field, 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from the three-point line, and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the free throw line. They were out shot by the Mountaineers who were 34.0 percent (16-of-47) from the field, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from beyond, and 76.7 percent (23-of-30) from the free-throw line.
As a team the Mountaineers grabbed down 13 offensive rebounds which resulted in nine second chance points. They out rebounded the Mavs 43-29.
The Mavericks opened the game with a 5-4 lead in the first two minutes of action before Western's Samantha Coleman knocked down a three to take a 7-5 lead that the Mountaineers would maintain the remainder of the game. She finished with a team high 17 points. The Mavericks closed the first quarter on a 5-0 run but were answered by a layup from the Mountaineers in the final second to take a 22-14 lead entering the second quarter.
A low scoring second quarter resulted in 13 combined points for both team as the Mountaineers outscored the Mavs 7-6 and maintained their lead, 29-20 at the break.
The Mavs knocked down three 3-pointers to open up the third quarter and got themselves within three of the Mountaineers, 32-29, at the 8:45 mark. The two teams exchanged baskets and the Mavericks got within a single possession two more times before the Mountaineers extended their lead 41-33 with four minutes remaining in the third. They extended their lead by as much as ten points before Elly Walters knocked down a free throw to get the Mavs within single digits.
The Mountaineers knocked down three consecutive field goals to being the final quarter, which included two three-pointers to find their largest lead of the game, 53-36 with 6:26 to play. The Mavericks answered by outscoring the Mountaineers 16-2 to get within a single possession, 55-52 with 22 seconds to play. The Mountaineers were put to the free throw line and missed both, but recorded an offensive rebound which put them at the line again where they made a pair. Rigsby and Brandon both attempted three-pointers in the final seconds that were empty. The Mountaineers secured the rebound and were fouled, which sent Samantha Coleman to the line once again. She recorded both free throws to settle the score, 59-52.
