The Mavericks suffered a tough 66-71 loss in Denver, Colo. against the Roadrunners.
Metro State University-Denver’s (MSUD) Allie Navarette scored a game-high 32 points. Navarette shot two more free throws than the Mavericks in the game as she shot 19 for 25 from the charity stripe.
Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) senior forward Savannah Domgaard scored a career-high 21 points on shooting eight for 11 from the field.
The Mavericks were without senior guard Daniella Turner and sophomore guard Natalie Bartle who are their top two scorers.
The Roadrunners got on the board first and they continued their momentum as they took a 13-5 lead midway through the first quarter. The Mavericks offense quickly kicked into gear and they were able to cut MSUD’s lead down to four points by the end of the quarter.
Navarette and MSUD’s Kendra Parra extended their lead to nine points in the first minute of the second quarter. CMU was able to cut the lead down to two points halfway through the second before the Roadrunners extended their lead back to double digits.
MSUD was able to extend their lead back to nine points to close the first half. Navarette tallied 16 points in the first half to lead both teams in scoring.
Domgaard led the Mavericks in scoring in the first half with ten points and she was two for two from behind the arc.
The Roadrunners opened the third quarter on an 11 to two-run to extend their lead to 18 points which was the largest lead of the game. CMU immediately went to work trying to cut into the deficit.
Kylyn Rigsby attempts a three-point shot against CCU. | Mikayla Olave for The Criterion
The Maverick’s work paid off as they cut MSUD’s lead down to five points at the end of the third quarter. Domgaard scored eight points in the final five minutes of the third quarter as she was a focal point in CMU reducing MSUD’s lead.
Both teams traded shots in the opening five minutes of the fourth quarter as the Mavericks couldn’t drop MSUD’s lead under five. With 3:44 left in the game, the Roadrunners increased their lead to nine points.
The Mavericks got back into the game and took a one-point lead with 30 seconds left in the contest.
MSUD’s Alex Carlton took the lead back with two free throws, and the Mavericks couldn’t tie the game back up as they lost by five points.
Senior guard Kylyn Rigsby was the second-leading scorer for CMU with 14 points and she added seven rebounds and four assists in the game.
The Maverick’s next game is Saturday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. against Colorado Christian University.
