Colorado Mesa University (CMU) hosted the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) for the quarterfinal round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament.
The Mavericks were able to win by a score of 79-48.
Graduate student guards Daniella Turner and Mariah Martin outscored the Mountain Lions of University of Colorado- Colorado Springs (UCCS) themselves. Combined, Martin and Turner put up 58 points with Turner scoring 28 points.
The pair was able to open up more in the second half as Colorado Mesa University (CMU) figured out how to get into a better one on one rhythm going against a physical defense. 16 of Turner’s points came in the second half.
“We did a little better on our one on ones in the second half. We had a jump ball right out of the gate in the second half and I told everybody if we just settle down, play the defense we know we can play, we’ll get out on offense and score. We helped a lot more in the post and were able to adjust more on their skip passes,” Turner said.
Turner and Martin know that teams are going to focus a little bit more on them especially throughout the rest of the postseason and they are ready to do whatever they need to do to help their team keep getting victories.
Martin ended the night with 23 points as well as eight assists.
The energy throughout the game was electric as the vocal presence from freshman forward Emily Cavey was shown on the bench and on the court as well. Cavey came in when needed throughout the game and played a total of 17 minutes.
Cavey hit a three-pointer in the third quarter as well as making her free throw when she was fouled to put the Mavericks up by 20 points.
UCCS could not get past the Mavericks defense in the third quarter as they only scored six points.
Graduate student guard Sophie Anderson had a solid defensive showing in the third as she had three defensive rebounds and the only block in the quarter. Kelsey Siemons, the Mavericks graduate student forward, only collected five points but gathered nine rebounds.
Even though CMU struggled to get going early on the defensive side they started out strong offensively as they went into half time scoring 42 points to UCCS 28.
The Mavericks now look to Friday night’s semi final match with Metro State University-Denver (MSUD). The Roadrunners have been locked in everytime they have faced CMU this season as the Mavericks lost both games in the regular season.
After their quarterfinal game. Martin talked about how the team is looking for revenge against MSUD.
“Revenge,” Martin said. “A team can’t shoot over 50% against us three times and the two of us [ Martin and Turner] can’t go for 20 three times.”
The Roadrunners and Mavericks will meet up in Golden, Colo. as Colorado School of Mines will play host for the rest of the RMAC Women’s Basketball Tournament. Tip-off for that game is set for 7:30 p.m.
