GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — It took the Colorado Mesa women's basketball team less than seven minutes Thursday to make more 3-pointers than the Mavericks hit in 50 minutes of playing time only two days earlier.
Back on their home court, where they're undefeated this season, the Mavs made four 3s before the first media timeout in the first quarter and netted 11 in all in their 81-38 runaway victory over Westminster University.
The 43 points was the largest margin of victory in the 20-game series between the teams and ran CMU's record to 17-4, 11-3 in the RMAC and 10-0 in Brownson Arena. It was the Mavs' fifth straight victory.
"This is our gym, so we're used to it, we shoot on these rims every day," freshman guard Mason Rowland said. "We should be able to knock them down and once you see the first one go through, they're just going to keep coming."
Sparked by 70-percent shooting in the first quarter, the Mavericks overcame a sluggish second quarter by ratcheting up the defense again after halftime.
"The second quarter we took some tough shots and that led to easy baskets for them on the other side," CMU coach Taylor Wagner said. "Then at halftime we just talked about we really need to shore up our defense and remember the scout, what we want to do on different players. I thought the girls in the second half did a really good job; they were laser-focused on who they were guarding and they did a great job helping each other out."
It was 45-27 at the break after the Mavs gave up only eight points in the first 10 minutes, then nearly shut out the Griffins (3-19, 1-13 RMAC) in the third quarter, 17-4. Westminster made only one of 12 field goals in that 10-minute span.
For the game, Mesa shot 49 percent and a shade under 40 percent from the 3-point line. Westminster shot 29.8 percent and 33.3 percent from the arc.
Establishing the paint was CMU's first priority, with Olivia Reed taking advantage of being played straight-up at times to score 26 points. She also stepped out and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half before heading to the bench with the game well in hand in the fourth quarter.
She finished with another double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds, had a career-high six assists and blocked two shots.
"It's something I've had to work on, just knowing when to go for (a block) and when not to go for it," Reed said. "I'm trying to work on that and staying out of foul trouble, but the coaches talk to me about contesting that when it's out of their hands."
Offensively, Reed was more than happy to only see one defender at times in the post.
"It seems every team does it a little bit different," she said. The Griffins loaded up the paint trying to deny her the ball, but helped off once she did get the ball so the Mavs didn't get wide-open looks if she passed the ball back out. "That initial start, just seeing what's going on and being able to take it in and look around and read what's going on helps, but yeah, I like it."
Rowland was also efficient on offense, making nine of 11 field goals and scoring 19 points, added two assists and three steals. She also blocked one shot.
"I love shooting the passing lanes," Rowland said of her interceptions. "We have confidence our teammates to know they're going to be there to help if we do shoot a gap, and that's helpful."
Kylie Kravig added eight points, as did Glenwood Springs freshman Joslyn Spires, who played the final 4:48 and scored the first points of her career. Redshirt freshman Serena Ileleji, who missed all of last season with an injury, also scored her first career points.
"They deserve it," Wagner said. "They work so hard in practice and going into this game I was hoping we'd be able to do that. I thought everyone played phenomenal when they got in, they were engaged and focused the whole time. It's hard to sit there and not know when you're gonna go in, so I take my hat off to them to come in and really bring some energy in that fourth quarter."
The stat sheet was as lopsided as the final score, with CMU outrebounding Westminster 42-27 and scoring 20 points off the Griffins' 16 turnovers. The Mavericks had only six turnovers, leading to one basket.
In a rarity, neither team called a timeout — all of the breaks were the mandated media timeouts, and the teams were whistled for 19 total fouls, which kept the game moving. The final horn sounded roughly 90 minutes after the opening tip.
