CANYON, Texas – The Colorado Mesa women's basketball team forced 23 turnovers and scored 27 points off of those turnovers in a 62-52 season opening win over Texas Permian Basin as a part of the South Central Region Challenge at the First United Bank Center.
 
The Mavericks shot just 34 percent from the field and made just 4-of-26 from beyond the arc for the game. They had two distinct advantages in the game though, holding a 41-28 advantage in rebounds and forced 23 turnovers.
 
Kelsey Siemons paced the Mavericks in the first quarter scoring eight of the team's 12 points in the frame including two of the four made threes in the game. The output helped push Colorado Mesa out to a 12-4 lead after one.
 
The Mavericks kept the clamps down on defense throughout the half and held a 25-12 first half lead after forcing 12 turnovers including four shot clock violations.
 
It was the Monica Brooks show in the third quarter as she was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and scored nine points in the quarter. All nine of her points were consecutive from the 7:23 mark of the third to the 4:22 mark and ended with a three to make it 36-24.
 
Colorado Mesa was outscored by three in the second half but the early lead held up in the end.
 
Daniella Turner led all scorers with 18 points while Brooks, Siemons and Mariah Martin all finished with 12. Siemons and Savannah Domgaard finished with a game-high seven rebounds.
 
Falcon Rory Carter led Texas Permian Basin with 13 points.
 
The win makes it 10 straight in season openers under head coach Taylor Wagner's coaching tenure.
 
The Mavericks will take on the host West Texas A&M Buffs tomorrow evening at 6:30pm.