In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team found themselves losing the season series in an important Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) game against CSU-Pueblo. The Mavericks struggled offensively, unable to come from behind and falling by a final score of 66-53.

The ThunderWolves came into the contest as the top-ranked team in the conference, and it showed Friday night. Sporting the best defense statistically, the ThunderWolves stymied the Maverick offense throughout the game, limiting them to 38.5 percent (20-of-52) shooting.

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CMU shot a season-low 13 percent (3-of-23) from three-point range and lost the rebounding battle 38-27. The Mavericks’ three converted three-pointers were also a season-low.

Jaylyn Duran struggled in her second consecutive game, scoring a season-low five points on 2-of-11 shooting. Erin Reichle scored 12 points, but couldn’t find a groove from beyond the arc, only converting 2-of-10 from three. Ma’ata Epenisa led CMU with 16 points and five rebounds.

The Mavericks got off to a quick start and kept pace with CSU-Pueblo, but the latter used their defense to fend off the offensive attack, eventually leading by 17 with 5:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.

CMU took care of the basketball, only committing nine turnovers to CSU-Pueblo’s 13. It didn’t help the Mavericks in the scoring department as CMU was outscored in every quarter except the fourth.

Although the Mavericks have lost five of their past eight games, the team has clinched a spot in the RMAC tournament. CMU is currently ahead of South Dakota Mines as the seventh seed.

The Mavericks move to 18-9 and 12-9 in the RMAC, while the ThunderWolves climb to 21-6 and a 19-2 conference record.

CMU heads to New Mexico to take on New Mexico Highlands at 5:30 p.m. in the final game of the regular season before the RMAC tournament.