WEEK IN REVIEW
The Mavericks had just one game during last week but it also started the two week odd schedule for the team as they played last Friday, this Tuesday and this upcomign Saturday.
They improved to 2-0 on the season against Fort Lewis after a 61-48 win over the Skyhawks in Durango. The Maverick defense limited the Skyhawks to just 26.4 percent from the field and two made three-pointers in the game. The Mavericks owned the glass with a 42-30 advantage and a 34-20 edge in points in the paint.
Olivia Reed led all scorers with 16 points while teammates Tia Slade and Monica Brooks each had nine rebounds. Kylie Kravig added four points and a game-high six assists.
WEAKNESS INTO A STRENGTH
Free throw shooting was once one of the weakest parts of the Maverick's game. In fact, they ranked No. 12 in the conference in free throw shooting at 61.2 percent as they headed into the conference schedule on December 4.
Twelve games later they rank in the top five of both overall season games and conference only games in free throw percentage. They are over the 70 percent threshold at 70.1 percent for the season which is now the No. 4 mark in the conference and they are shooting 74.9 percent from the stripe in conference only games, the No. 2 mark in the RMAC.
Laura Gutierrez leads the team at 92.3 percent (36-for-39) with Monica Brooks just behind at 75.9 percent (41-of-54) for the season.
STANDINGS CHECK
With the season coming down to its final month, we will take a weekly look at where the Mavericks stand and others each week.
Currently, Colorado Mesa sits in eighth position which would get them into the RMAC Tournament and if the season were to end today would send them to Colorado School of Mines for a first round matchup with the Orediggers.
The Mavericks are just a half of a game out of the fifth position and with potentially two wins this week could move them within a game of the top four.
The hottest team in the league, Regis, is in second place at 10-2 in the conference while Black Hills State is in third at 9-2 with Adams State in fourth at 9-3.
The Mavericks own the tiebreaker over the Grizzlies with their 68-64 win back on December 17.
THE TRENDS
A couple of trends have developed over the season that lead to a Colorado Mesa Maverick win.
The Mavericks are 3-0 when they shoot over 45 percent from the field. They shot 45.3 percent from the field in Friday's win over Fort Lewis.
They also have yet to win a game that they were out-rebounded in as they are 0-6 when that happens.
Colorado Mesa is also 3-1 when they commit fewer turnovers then their opponents. This is a stat that continues to improve for the Mavericks as they are no longer the worst team in the league in turnover margin.
GETTING NOTICED
Colorado Mesa is starting to gain notice for what is being put together late in the season. Not that it means a whole lot, but they gained one vote in this week's D2SIDA South Central Region Media poll. One of the region's six voters selected them as the tenth best team in the region.
Texas Woman's is the top vote getting team in the poll this week as they garnered five of the six first place votes. Angelo State was second followed by RMAC leader Colorado School of Mines who received the final first place vote.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Mavericks won the front end of their odd ball two weeks. They have the split matchups this week with Westminster and Western Colorado on Tuesday and Saturday, then they will return to a normal Friday, Saturday schedule.
They will take on Regis and UCCS next weekend to complete a mini-three game home stand. Saturday February 4's matchup with UCCS will be the annual Blizzard in Brownson game sponsored by Coca Cola.
RMAC PRESEASON POLL
Colorado Mesa was picked to finish fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as voted on by the coaches. The Mavericks are coming off a year where they made the the NCAA South Central Region Tournament for the sixth time during his tenure.
Colorado School of Mines was picked to win the conference garnering 183 points and eight first place votes. RMAC coaches seemed to be mixed on what they think. Five schools received at least one first place vote which included Mines, second place CSU Pueblo, third place Black Hills State, fourth place MSU Denver, and the Mavericks.
THE LONE SENIOR
With the large group of COVID players exiting a year ago, Colorado Mesa has just one senior on their roster this season. In fact, they have just one junior on the roster as well.
Redshirt senior Monica Brooks is the lone senior on the roster and one of three Mavericks that has starting experience on the team as she entered the season with 19 career starts and has a record of 13-6 in those starts when she started the season.
THE STAFF
Joining head coach Taylor Wagner on his staff is long time assistant Hannah Pollart. The Colorado Mesa grad has been the Mavericks assistant coach since May of 2016 after a short stop at Northeastern Junior College. She was responsible for on and off campus recruiting, conditioning, weight training, player development, and scouting reports.
With Colorado Mesa, she coaches the posts, assists with recruiting, develops scouting reports, and coordinates travel among other duties taht assist in the development of the program.
As a player, she starred at Colorado Mesa for one season and helped lead the Mavericks to the NCAA South Central Region Championship game. During her senior season, she averaged 7.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
