Wagner gets his 200th win against the Mountain Lions

Josh Coleman • January 4, 2021

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Head Coach Taylor Wagner picked up win 200 against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS).

The Mavericks won 89-57 over the Mountain Lions in their first game back for the holiday break. Senior guard Daniella Turner led CMU in scoring with 20 points and she contributed three assists in the game as well.

CMU scored 42 points in the paint as they dominated the lane against the Mountain Lions.

“They were switching a lot on us, so we ended up getting their guards on our post and I think that was one way that we were able to score. In the second half, it was more of our guards, we looked at some plays that we thought might be able to get some people and confuse them on the switch,” Wagner said.

Daniella Turner tries to get open for Kelsey Siemons against CCU. | *Mikayla Olave for The Criterion*

Four of the five starters for the Mavericks scored in double figures. Senior forward Kelsey Siemons finished with a near double-double as she contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Mavericks took the lead early in the first quarter, but UCCS took their only lead of the game, going up 11-9. CMU quickly tied the game up and took the lead back and went on a nine-point run.

The Mavericks offense didn’t slow down in the first quarter either as they finished the first quarter with a 26-17 lead.

CMU continued to build off their lead in the second quarter as they extended it to 18 points with two minutes left in the first half. Siemons led CMU in scoring at the half with 10 points and she contributed three rebounds and three assists as well.

“It’s been a personal goal or even a goal within the post to be more present on the rebounding side. Last year it was mainly Sydni and she left, so someone has to fill that role, so Sierra and I have specifically talked to each other and said that has to be us this year,” Siemons said.

Senior forward Savannah Domgaard pushed CMU’s lead to 19 points with her first three in the third quarter. The Mavericks didn’t let their lead slip below 14 points in the second half as they kept UCCS at bay.

Sierra McNicol and Dani Turner fired up | *Mikayla Olave for The Criterion*

CMU kept their foot on the gas pedal in the fourth quarter as they pushed their lead to a game-high 34 points. The Mavericks outscored UCCS 20-8 in the fourth quarter to close the game out.

Senior forward Sierra McNicol finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. McNicol was CMU’s third-leading scorer in their 32-point win over the Mountain Lions.

“When I run the court, good things happen. If I run the court, it usually an easy two points or I’ll be able to kick out to the shooters, and we have great shooters on our team that are always ready to hit the shot and they go in,” McNicol said.

The Mavericks forced the Mountain Lions to commit 24 turnovers in the game, and they scored 34 points off those turnovers.

CMU’s next game is Saturday, Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m. against Black Hills State University in Brownson Arena.

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