Missing five free-throws in an attempt to extend the lead late in the final minute of a one-possession game against a conference rival can raise one or two heart rates.
Yes, that lead did have a ton packed into one sentence but so did this game.
The Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team escaped by the skin of their teeth after downing Westminster College to redeem their last loss against the Griffins two weeks ago. The top-ranked Mavericks downed the No. 2 team in the conference 50-47 on Friday to gain extend their lead in the RMAC standings to three games.
“That’s a tough game. It was a big game for both of us,” Head Coach Taylor Wagner said. “We could’ve folded and we didn’t. Now we just gotta keep going. Now it’s the big game after the big game and we cannot have a let down for tomorrow.”
Guards Daniella Turner and forward Sierra McNicol missed five of six free-throws all within the final minute in the one-score game.
Moreover, Westminster missed three field goals in the final 40 seconds and couldn’t capitalize on the given opportunities.
“Yea, it definitely feels good,” Dani Turner said. “Cause we finished a little cleaner in a sense. But, I mean ultimately we beat them and that’s what we wanted.”
The Griffins couldn’t replicate their comeback from the first meeting that saw them claw their way back from 18 points down and end CMU’s 14-game winning streak. On Friday, the Griffins were down 13 at one point in the first half but eventually caught back up after holding the Mavericks to 11.7 percent from the field during the second quarter.
“That is the kinda team that they are most of the time,” guard Sydni Brandon said. “They are very turnover prone. Coach said it. They did a very good job controlling the ball the rest of the game.”
CMU has not shot under 12 percent in a single quarter all season but went 2-17 and scored only five points in the second against Westminster. The Mavericks still led 27-26 going into the locker room at the half.
It was White-Out Night at Brownson Arena but I guess it was safe to say the Griffins weren’t seeing any ghosts after the second quarter…I know that was a stretch…worth a shot.
In the third, the Mavericks didn’t shoot significantly better as it seemed both defenses cancelled each other out. CMU did rack up a couple more threes to increase their lead to six points heading into the fourth.
Things to remember: Sydni Brandon came into the night shooting 18.8 percent from three-point range. On Friday, Brandon made a season-high three long-range shots and shot 75 percent from beyond the arc.
Brandon’s threes, along with CMU’s defense, helped elevate the Mavericks in the end. The Grand Junction native ended the night with 11 points, three assists and one block. Dani Turner also added 11 points and five rebounds.
“They did the same thing last game, and it was extremely disrespectful cause they were starting to sag off to the block,” Brandon said jokingly when asked about Westminster defending her three’s. “So I’m like ‘Whatever…imma pull it.’ You know, other coaches don’t see how I shoot at practice. I mean I shoot like that in practice, it’s just been a problem to bring that out during games.”
CMU kept tight with the Griffins until the very end that almost ended in a deja-vu moment as Sarah McGinley knocked down a three with 29 seconds remaining to bring the score to 49-47.
The Mavericks would get the ball back, Dani Turner made one of two free throws, Sierra McNicol would miss another two but then McGinley couldn’t knock down another three to tie it up as time expired.
With the win, CMU improves to 19-3 on the year and gains a three-game lead in the RMAC standings. Dixie State is up next on the schedule on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff time.
