GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa women's basketball team picked up their first win of the season on Sunday (Nov. 27) as they defeated conference foe Fort Lewis 78-61 in a non-conference matchup to close out the Holiday Inn Airport Thanksgiving Classic.
 
The Mavericks built a 43-28 lead heading into the halftime break after trailing 10-4 early in the first quarter. They took their first lead with 1:04 to play in the first quarter after a made Kylie Kravig three-pointer giving the Mavericks a 17-14 lead which they would never relinquish.
 
The largest lead the Mavericks had came with 6:13 to play in the third quarter at 51-28 after Olivia Reed scored a layup.
 
Colorado Mesa and Fort Lewis played even in the second half at 33-33.
 
After turnovers plagued the Mavericks through the first six games of the season, they only coughed the ball up 10 times that led to just 11 Fort Lewis points, Conversely, the Mavericks forced 15 Skyhawk turnovers which led to 21 points off those turnovers.
 
Colorado Mesa finished the game with four scorers in double figures, a first this season. They finished shooting 50 percent from the field and had 25 assists on 30 made baskets.
 
Laura Gutierrez led the Mavericks with a season-high 18 points with seven of those coming at the free-throw line. Monica Brooks finished with 13 while Kylie Kravig finished with 10.
 
Olivia Reed finished with her third double-double of the season after scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in the win.
 
Colorado Mesa's 78 points is the most the Mavericks have scored this season.
 
The Mavericks will open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play next weekend in Brownson Arena as they will host Colorado School of Mines and MSU Denver on Friday and Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 5:30pm.