ODESSA, Texas — A furious fourth-quarter comeback fell short Friday for the Colorado Mesa women's basketball team in an 80-78 loss to West Texas A&M.
The Mavericks fell behind by as many as 17 points in their opening game of the D2 Conference Challenge, but a concerted defensive effort allowed them to cut the deficit to five points in the final seconds of the third quarter. A half-court 3-pointer by Kyla Kane pushed the Buffs' lead to 61-53 entering the final 10 minutes.
With 3:29 to play, the Mavericks were down 12 points, but a 13-0 run in less than three minutes gave CMU its first lead since two minutes into the second quarter.
Olivia Reed Thyne triggered that run, scoring six of her career-high 32 points, but pressure defense caused three West Texas A&M turnovers, all of which led to CMU points.
Riley Hayes hit a 3-pointer to get the go-ahead scoring spree started. Reed Thyne went inside after one turnover, and after she made another reverse layup, Hayes deflected the inbounds pass to Mason, who quickly laid it in to cut the lead to one point, 77-76, with 48 seconds remaining.
The Mavs again put on the pressure, and a long pass downcourt was thrown out of bounds, giving CMU possession. Kylie Kravig drove and drew a foul, with her two free throws with 37 seconds remaining putting the Mavericks up 78-77.
Kane got loose for a jumper with 25 seconds to play to put the Buffs up 79-78, and Hayes missed a 3 on the other end. A foul put the Buffs at the line, but Taytum Bell missed both and Rowland snared the rebound and called time with 12 seconds remaining, advancing the ball to the front court.
With five seconds remaining, Kravig's jumper from the top of the key rimmed off and Claire Graham made one of two free throws with two seconds left.
Reed Thyne rebounded the miss and got the ball to midcourt but couldn't get a pass off to anyone in position for a shot before the final horn.
Despite missing the final seven minutes of the first half after picking up her second foul, Reed Thyne dominated the paint with 32 points on 14-of-20 shooting and made all four free throw attempts.
The first half, however, was a struggle for CMU, which plays Texas Permian Basin at 4:30 p.m. today. The Mavericks made only one of 13 shots from the 3-point line in the first half, compared to the Buffs' five of 14. West Texas A&M (2-1) shot 47% from the field in the first half to build a 45-32 lead — CMU shot 38 percent — but until the final minutes of the third quarter and the fourth, the Mavericks couldn't put together enough stops to cut into the double-digit lead.
Rowland finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three assists in her first start, Kravig had a point guard double-double with 11 points and 11 assists, along with six rebounds. Reed Thyne led CMU with 13 rebounds, and added two assists and a pair of steals. Hayes, battling foul trouble the entire game, hit a pair of 3s in the fourth quarter, and Brooklyn Palmer added seven points in her first CMU game.
Down 45-32 at halftime, the Mavericks shot 41% in the second half to the Buffs' 37% to help them rally — West Texas made only two 3-pointers in the second half, with CMU making five — and outscored the Buffs 46-35. CMU scored 23 points off turnovers and 42 points in the paint.
