GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Behind its best shooting game of the season, the No. 25 Colorado Mesa women's basketball held off Regis University's late rally Saturday (Dec. 9) for a crucial 87-82 RMAC victory at Brownson Arena.
The Mavericks (9-2, 3-1 RMAC) shot 65.5% in the first half (19 of 29), with Josee Steadman hitting all six of her attempts from the field — and all four 3-pointers — and Olivia Reed was 5 of 6 for her 10 first-half points. CMU led 44-29 at the break after holding Regis to 35% shooting (13 of 37).
"I thought we had a great first half, probably the best first half of the year," coach Taylor Wagner said. "I was really proud of our girls going into halftime, and the third quarter I thought we did a great job and sustained the lead. Then the fourth quarter just got away from us."
The lead swelled to 22 points, 67-45, by the end of the third quarter and at one point CMU led by as many as 26 points, 63-37, when Sophie Hadad converted a layup on the fast break after a steal by Kylie Kravig.
Hadad scored 16 points, one off her career high, in what was a bit of a redemption game for the redshirt junior guard. She suffered season-ending injuries twice in her career in games against the Rangers. She also had six assists, four rebounds and one steal, again playing all 40 minutes, as did point guard Kylie Kravig (9 points 9 assists, 2 steals). Hadad sat out last season to regain her strength and has progressed every week.
"I remembered that right as we started the game, that was the game I got hurt, so there were some nerves starting the game but I eased into it," Hadad said. "I'm starting to feel more natural playing and I'm not thinking about my knees at all."
Regis went on a 13-1 scoring run in the fourth quarter and CMU was scoreless for 2 ½ minutes, allowing the Rangers to cut the lead to nine points, 78-69, with 3:19 remaining.
Steadman, who scored a career-high 19 points, pushed the lead back to 12 with her final 3-pointer of the night. The redshirt sophomore was 7 of 9 from the field and 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, and her efficiency carried over to the rest of the Mavericks, who ended up shooting 58.2% (32-55) and made 11 of 23 from the 3-point line.
Early on, neither team could miss, with CMU leading 23-17 at the end of the first quarter — Friday night's halftime score against CU-Colorado Springs was 27-18.
The Rangers pressure defense caused four turnovers in the final 10 minutes, allowing them to come roaring back with a 37-point quarter, but Hadad hit a driving layup when the Mavs broke the press with 1:20 remaining to help resettle CMU.
Mesa played only three reserves, but they outscored Regis' bench 35-6, with Mason Rowland scoring 16 points. For the game, the Mavericks shot 58.2% from the field and 47.8% from the 3-point line, finding open players and making extra passes to get the right shot. Reed added a dozen points and seven rebounds, with three assists, before fouling out.
"It's everything," Wagner said of the offensive efficiency. "The cleaner look we get, the better percentage it's going to be. We've got to find each other sooner, before the defense finds us and sniffs it out. When everybody's on, we're a hard team to guard and that's what I liked about that first half, we shared the ball so well."
