GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa women's basketball is moving on in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament following a 59-53 win over the MSU Denver Roadrunners on Tuesday afternoon in Brownson Arena.
 
The Mavericks led by just three with 27 seconds left when redshirt sophomore Natalie Bartle her biggest shot of the night. The Negaunee, Mich. native buried a three-pointer to move the Mavericks lead to 55-50 and the Mavericks would need it as the Roadrunners went down and hit a three of their own.
 
Bartle came back down and made a fast break layup with just seven seconds left to push the Maverick lead to 57-53 before a MSU Denver intentional foul and two made free-throws by Kylyn Rigsby gave the Mavericks the decisive win.
 
Bartle finished the night with a game-high 20 points with 12 points coming in the second half. She completed the double-double with 10 rebounds, the second of the season for the guard.
 
Colorado Mesa led by as many as 11 points with 5:37 after Daniella Turner connected on one of her two three-point baskets. Turner finished the game with 14 points and three rebounds while Rigsby finished with 15 points and five assists to round out the Mavericks in double figures.
 
Defensively, the Mavericks held the Roadrunners to 31.5 percent from the field with just two made three-pointers.
 
This is the third straight year the Mavericks have made it to the semifinals.
 
The Mavericks will head to Golden for the Final Four as host Colorado School of Mines defeated Regis in another RMAC quarterfinal matchup. The Mavericks and Orediggers will matchup in the semifinals on Friday at 5:30pm in Lockridge Arena.