Number three.
Graduate Student Daniella Turner has made her mark on the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Women’s Basketball program over the past five years.
Turner has completed many things as a Maverick but her biggest milestone was being the 19 player in program history to reach 1,000 points. She reached the milestone on Jan. 22 against Regis University on the road in Denver, CO.
The Maverick standout was able to reach the milestone in 92 games.
Turner’s success has not gone unnoticed throughout the season, she was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Offensive Player of the Week three times this season as well as winning RMAC Player of the Year at the end of the regular season.
Being named RMAC Player of the Year was something that Turner has wanted for the past three years. It was a major accomplishment for her to do it in her final year as a Maverick.
“I’ve wanted to be RMAC player of the this award is a major accomplishment and honestly it came as a surprise. I really thought that Mariah [Martin] was going to win it this year because she’s been having such a great season or even thought that we could have been Co-players of the year. It is an honor to get this award and be among some of the Mavericks to have won it like Jay [Jaylyn Duran] did my sophomore year and Sharaya [Selsor],” Turner said.
Being one of the Mavericks main shooters over the years, Turner is always getting guard tight especially when it comes to conference play. She has the capability to read how the defense is guarding her and then deciding if she is going to drive in or go for the three point shot.
This season, she was able to make 41% of her shots from the field and shoot 31% from the arc.
Turner has always been a strong player on both sides for CMU but was able to amplify her defensive game as well. Turner is second in rebounds this season with 162.
“Defense hasn’t always been my strong suit, but I know that to stay on the court I have to play good defense and I wanted to prove that I am a good defender. I think defense is a way of showing pride for your team and telling yourself that you can stop whoever it is that you guard or at least give them a tough time scoring if they are a major offensive threat but also having your teammates back when they need help,” Turner said.
The Boca Raton, Fla. native, has always been a strong shooter but with the addition of graduate student Mariah Martin, they have been able to help each other out by bringing out the best in one another. They have been able to take advantage of having to have the opposing teams defense guard both of them and not just one shooter for the Mavericks. They also have created a friendship off the court that has helped them play well together on the hardwood.
Martin brings a unique aspect to the Mavericks roster especially when it comes to playing with Turner because she has played against her for the last few years.
“I’ve played against Dani for a couple years now and she’s always been the key player. Everybody focuses on stopping in order for our team to have success. Being her teammate has been a lot of fun, we’ve gotten super close on and off the court and I think the off the court chemistry has helped us be successful together on the court. She understands the game very well and does a great job at being able to score regardless of where she is on the court,” Martin said.
Turner has given her all to the Mavericks basketball program over the past five years and will always have a second family in her teammates.
“This program has embraced me since the first day I started here and continues to support me endlessly. This program has believed me every step of the way and I want nothing more than to give back to the program that has given me so much. It’s been a second hole for me and a family that I will never forget,” Turner said.
