The Mavericks dominate in their home opener

"The Mavericks posted their highest scoring total under Head Coach Taylor Wagner and their highest mark in exactly ten years with their 99-33 win over the Warriors."

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The Mavericks posted their highest scoring total under Head Coach Taylor Wagner and their highest mark in exactly ten years with their 99-33 win over the Warriors.  

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) improves to 4-0 on the season with the win and they have kept their opponents under 40 points in their last two regular-season games.  

The Mavericks had four different players that scored in double figures against SAGU American Indian College (SAGUAIC). CMU shot 48.8% from the field and they shot 40% from behind the three-point arc in the game. The Mavericks dominated the glass as well as they finished with a 61 to 18 advantage in the rebound category.  

“They were in their zone [defense] and we really didn’t call too many plays out. They just found each other and that’s what we said. Look for each other, get in the seam and make sure your eyes are up and be ready to make the open pass,” Wagner said.  

Kelsey Siemons attempts one of her five three-points shots against the Warriors on Nov. 27. | Josh Coleman for The Criterion

Graduate student forward Kelsey Siemons led the Mavericks in scoring with 13 points and shot five for eight from the field. She made three shots from behind the arc and pulled down seven rebounds as well.  

CMU took control of the game early as they jumped out to a 19-2 lead in the first five minutes of the first quarter. SAGUAIC’s offense was able to start to click in the back-half of the first quarter as they finished with 14 points, but the Mavericks continued to roll as they finished with a 21-point lead.  

The start of the second quarter was more of the same for CMU as they built a 48-18 lead halfway through the quarter.  

The Mavericks had three different players score in double figures in the first half as they held a 59-20 lead. Graduate student forward Savanah Domgaard led CMU in scoring at halftime as she had tallied 11 points. 

“This year, our offense flows a lot better, I feel like all of us play really well together and we can read each other well. It’s a lot of fun playing with them and our team is really talented, so it’s fun to play with Mariah [Martin] and Daniella [Turner] because we can do a lot of things and it’s fun to see each other have success in different ways.”  

Mariah Martin gathers before attempting a fastbreak layup with multiple Warrior defenders trailing against SAGU American Indian College on Nov. 27. | Josh Coleman for The Criterion

CMU’s defense continued to play a major role in the game as they held the Warriors to just four points in the third quarter. The Mavericks mix of starters and their bench was able to compile 22 points in the quarter as they continued to control all aspects of the game.  

Both offenses battled a little bit in the fourth quarter as SAGUAIC scored nine points in the quarter. The Mavericks scored 18 points in the quarter as their offense executed at a high level all game long.  

CMU scored 54 points in the paint and they scored 32 second-chance points against the Warriors. The Mavericks assisted 34 of their 41 baskets in the game.  

The Mavericks also finished the game with 21 steals and graduate student guard Daniella Turner along with freshman guard Kylie Kravig both compiled four steals in the game.  

“Most of that was instinct on the girls for the passes, but we want to be active on the defensive end. The girls did a great job of reading those passes and being able to shoot those passing lanes,” Wagner said.  

CMU’s next game is Saturday, Nov. 27 at 5:00 p.m. against the University of Montana Western in their final game of the Holiday Inn-Airport Thanksgiving Classic.  

 

Image courtesy of Josh Coleman | The Criterion