Sports Reporter
Sharaya Selsor let everyone know it was her senior night at Brownson Arena, leading all scorers with 29 points and 60 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line. The starting lineup consisted of all seniors, who helped lead the No. 2 Mavericks over Western State 82-46.
Despite the blowout win, the Mavericks led just 12-7 early on, but senior Aubrey Boehme’s nine first-half points kept the Mavs in the lead.
“Coach told me no one could stop me down there, and when I got the ball and got the chance I was going to take it to the hole,” Boehme said. “I felt like I could get good position, and my teammates found me.”
Both teams played well defensively early on as Western held the Mavs to just 1-7 behind the arc to start the game. Western’s leading scorer Jade McIntosh was held to just five points, shooting 2-13 from the field.
Western’s poor offensive execution and turnovers gave Mesa plenty of opportunities to get a rhythm going, and on an all-out hustle play by CMU’s Erin Reichle, that is exactly what happened. After Siu Lo’amanu poked the ball free from the post, Reichle scooped it off the court and hit a step-back three, and the Mavs’ shots started to fall.
“Any time you play great defense like that it usually makes something happen offensively,” Coach Taylor Wagner said. “Once we saw a few shots go in, that helped us settle down and get more comfortable on offense.”
Christen Lopez played well defensively with quick hands, notching three steals. Lopez, a senior, was ecstatic that her parents could be there to see her play as her collegiate career begins to wind down.
“It’s been the best having them here, and a lot of people don’t get the same support that I do every game,” Lopez said. “They’ve helped make my college career such a great experience.”
Lopez’s parents said they have mixed feelings as Christen’s collegiate career is nearing the end.
“It’s kind of sad in a sense because it’s been a huge part of our lives, but she’s brought us so much joy and has made us proud,” Richard Lopez, Christen’s father said. “It’s been such a great experience, and we’re coming to accept the fact that it’s winding down.”
Wagner paid homage to the seniors after the game.
“They’re great players, great people, and they have given us a great season,” Wagner said. “But hopefully we aren’t done making memories.”
The Mavericks will return to Brownson Arena a week from Tuesday after a road trip to Adams State and Fort Lewis this weekend. The Mavericks will face the No. 8 seed in the first round of the RMAC Tournament.
brjthomp@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Recent Comments