GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa women's basketball head coach Taylor Wagner announced the signing of a pair of student-athletes for the upcoming season. Madison Smith and Ava Cuff are a pair of junior college transfers that are set to join the Mavericks for the 2026-27 season.
 
"I am excited to add Madison and Ava to our program. They both have played a lot of minutes in junior college and will add depth to our team," Coach Wagner said. 
 
Madison Smith is a 6-2 forward that played the last two seasons at Mid Michigan College. She was the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) North Defensive Player of the Year and a Region 12 All-Defensive First Team recipient. She set the single season blocks for Mid Michigan with 109 and the single game record with eight.
 
The Mackinaw City, Mich. helped lead her team to a pair of Region 12 titles and a pair of appearances in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament where the Lakers finished in seventh place in 2025.
 
"Madison will add a defensive presence right away with her length. She was a great shot blocker the last few years. 
 
Ava Cuff is a 5-9 guard from Nephi, Utah that played the last two seasons at Treasure Valley Community College. Cuff averaged 12.7 points and 4.9 rebounds during her sophomore season in Ontario, Oregon. She was named to the NWAC All-Conference team both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
 
Cuff led the Chukars to the NWAC Sweet Sixteen in during both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. She plans to pursue speech pathology with an emphasis in communicative and deaf disorders.
 
"Ava is quick guard and does a great job attacking the basket. She competes every play and will add toughness to our team. I can't wait to see what they do for our program this year."
 
Colorado Mesa is set to open the season at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic on October 30.