LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A huge swing in offensive efficiency in the fourth quarter allowed Colorado Christian to make up a 10-point deficit Saturday (Jan. 13) and upset the Colorado Mesa women's basketball team 65-63 at the CCU Event Center.

The Mavericks could not get a stop when they needed one in the fourth quarter, and the Cougars made 9 of 11 field goals in the final 10 minutes to make up the difference.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks, who shot 69 percent in the third quarter to seemingly take charge of the game, managed to hit only 3 of 14 shots in the fourth quarter, one of seven from the 3-point line.

Up four at halftime, CMU (12-4, 6-3 RMAC) opened with a 3-pointer from Laura Gutierrez, who made four of seven 3-pointers to score 12 points. Olivia Reed then took over, scoring 10 points in the third quarter, making all five of her field goal attempts.

She had four rebounds and blocked one shot in the period, but also picked up her third foul, which was crucial when she was whistled for her fourth less than 30 seconds into the fourth quarter and headed to the bench with the Mavericks up 10. Reed finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

With Reed on the bench, CMU's offense bogged down, and the Cougars found seams in the defense to attack the basket.

A three-point play by Mason Rowland, who led the Mavericks with 18 points, put CMU up 13 points, 59-46, less than two minutes into the fourth quarter. The Cougars (10-5, 6-3), however, went on a 12-1 run over the next 4½ minutes to pull within two, 60-58. Reed checked back in with 4:03 remaining and blocked a shot after a 3-pointer by Steadman put CMU up five points, but she was called for her fifth foul battling for an offensive rebound with 1:22 remaining in a 63-63 game.

Maggie Hutka, who scored 31 points for the Cougars, hit what proved to be the winning basket, a short jumper in the paint, with 1:03 remaining.

Rowland's 3-point attempt in the final minute rattled out, but CMU got the ball back with 30 seconds to play and got the ball inside to Lauryn Deede with seven seconds left. Her layup bounced off the rim, but Steadman got the offensive rebound. Rowland's attempt at the winning layup was blocked by Hutka with three seconds to play.

The Mavericks turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 10 CCU points — the Cougars scored 42 of their 65 points in the paint.

The Mavericks play their next three games at Brownson Arena, hosting Black Hills State on Jan. 19 and South Dakota Mines on Jan. 20, then facing rival Fort Lewis on Jan 26 for the annual Blizzard in Brownson.