Sports Reporter
After holding on to a spot in the RMAC Tournament, the CMU women’s basketball team’s season ended Tuesday after losing in the first round to Metro State, 84-61.
“We had nothing to lose,” forward Hannah Bowden said. “Once the playoffs start, rankings don’t matter.”
The Mavs and Roadrunners traded baskets early. A pair of three-pointers from Tara Gehring put the Mavs up 25-21 with seven minutes left in the half.
However, Metro scored seven straight points in the last minute after two consecutive Maverick turnovers. The Mavs failed to score on their last five possessions and went into the half trailing 34-30.
Gehring opened the second half with another three and the Mavs looked to buckle down on defense.
“We wanted to come out with the same defensive energy,” Kelsey Sigl said.
A game-tying layup from Sigl at the 18-minute mark was the closest the Mavs would get to the lead. Metro’s offense caught fire and a three from Emily Wood capped off a 14-4 run. Metro led 49-39 with 15 minutes remaining. After a CMU timeout, Gehring hit another three and Sigl quieted the Metro crowd with a bank shot at the 12 minute mark and brought the Mavs within five points.
With 11 minutes remaining, Katrina Selsor fell to the floor, clutching her right knee after attempting to take a charge. Selsor was carried off the court with a hyperextended knee, but returned to play later in the game.
Down five points, the Mavs committed several turnovers that sparked a 16-4 Metro run that led to an 84-61 Roadrunner victory.
Metro shot 61 percent from the field compared to the Mav’s 43 percent, and the Roadrunner’s bench outscored the CMU bench 30-8.
“Fatigue killed us and led to mental mistakes,” Sigl said. “It also doesn’t help when the opposing team shoots 61 percent.”
The Mavs had 17 turnovers that led to 21 Metro points. Sigl led all scorers with 18 points. Gehring and Selsor each added 12 points, and Bowden chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
Sigl and Selsor were named to the All-RMAC team. Sigl earned first-team honors, averaging 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and notched 50 assists and 37 steals. Selsor was named to the second team with 11.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Selsor led all Mavs with 68 assists.
“We need to be more consistent mentally,” Selsor said. “We have the talent to be very good, and working hard during the off season will be important if we want to improve.”
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