GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 4 Colorado Mesa women's basketball team used staunch defense and efficient offense to come away with a 69-50 win over the visiting Fort Lewis Skyhawks on Thursday (Feb. 12) evening in Brownson Arena.
 
The Mavericks (25-1, 15-0 RMAC) limited Fort Lewis to just four points in the first quarter and less than 15 percent from the field. They held the Skyhawks to just 29.8 percent (17-for-57) for the game but seven of those makes came from beyond the arc.
 
Colorado Mesa outscored the Skyhawks in three out of the four quarters and tied the only other quarter. The Mavericks shot just a tick over 40 percent (40.4 percent) from the field and shot 84.6 percent (22-for-26) from the free-throw line in the win.
 
"Every game from here on out is going to be tough like that and they were physical with us, we know that going into the game and the girls made enough plays," said head coach Taylor Wagner.
 
The big three provided the firepower for Colorado Mesa. Olivia Reed Thyne, Mason Rowland, and Mykaela Moore scored 55 of the Mavericks 69 total points.
 
Reed Thyne finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds for her 52^nd career double-double while Rowland finished with 19 points and seven assists.
 
Mykaela Moore had 11 points and five assists.
 
Fort Lewis (14-9, 7-8 RMAC) were led by the 14 points off the bench from Makaya Porter while Katie Lamb chipped in 13 and Natalie Guarnella had 11 points.
 
Colorado Mesa is now a perfect 10-0 at home and have rattled off 22 straight wins. They have also won 32 consecutive RMAC games over the past two seasons.
 
The Mavericks received some good news after the game as Western Colorado defeated second place Adams State 70-60 in Gunnison. That gives the Mavericks a two-game cushion atop the standings table with just five games to play.
 
Colorado Mesa will be back at home on Saturday when they host New Mexico Highlands in Brownson Arena. The Mavericks defeated the Cowgirls by just one point down in Las Vegas, N.M. on a pair of free throws by Olivia Reed Thyne with less than a second to play.
 
Note: The Mavericks will have several Valentine's Day specials at all venues.