The Mavericks continued to display their dominance on the court, securing four victories in their last four games and extending their win streak to eleven straight.
The Mavericks’ victory over CSU Pueblo on Jan. 30 was defined by clutch shooting and defensive heroics. Senior forward Brooklyn Palmer made two key stops in the final minutes to keep the Thunderwolves at bay. Palmer’s late-game defense helped secure the victory by forcing a miss and a turnover on consecutive possessions. The Mavericks relied on their depth offensively, with four players scoring in double digits, led by junior forward Olivia Reed-Thyne’s 17 points.
Senior guard Riley Hayes added 16 points, with junior guard Mykaela Moore (12) and senior guard Kylie Kravig (11) providing additional scoring. Colorado Mesa Univeristy’s (CMU) ability to convert at the free-throw line, hitting 21 of 31 attempts, proved to be the difference, especially during the final minutes, when they made seven of eight to put the game out of reach.
“Tough place to play, and I thought we were the tougher team tonight. [The Thunderwolves] didn’t go away, and we just kept grinding,” Assistant Coach Hannah Pollart said.
Two days later, the Mavericks fought back to defeat the CU-Colorado Springs Mountain Lions 62-58, overcoming the Mountain Lions’ second-half surge. CMU took control early with an explosive 20-3 first-half run, but UCCS surged back to lead 31-28 in the third quarter.
CMU quickly regained momentum with a three-pointer from Hayes and a go-ahead layup from Reed-Thyne and the Mavericks never trailed again.
Reed-Thyne recorded her 12th double-double of the season, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Hayes finished with 17 points, including four 3-pointers, and Kravig added 10. Palmer again played a crucial defensive role, limiting the Mountain Lions in the paint while contributing nine points and seven rebounds.
The game’s deciding factor? Free throws. The Mavericks, one of the greatest free-throw shooting teams in the RMAC, went 11 for 16 in the fourth quarter alone, outscoring UCCS 20-8 at the line. Meanwhile, the Mountain Lions, the lowest in the RMAC in free throw percentage, struggled from the line.
The Mavs then returned home after nearly a two-week absence, looking to continue their consistent play. The Mavericks extended their winning streak to ten with a 76-46 victory over MSU Denver, refusing to allow their opponents to get back into the game. The Mavs set the tone early, with Hayes scoring 8 points in the first six minutes. Kravig scored a three-pointer in the last minute of the first quarter, increasing the lead to eight points.
MSU rallied with a 5-0 run to finish the quarter down 15-19, but CMU quickly regained control in the second period. A three-pointer by redshirt sophomore guard Macy Larson to begin the second quarter, followed by a pair of Palmer free throws, increased the lead to double digits. Reed-Thyne finished the first half with a last-second layup, giving the Mavs a comfortable 17-point advantage at halftime.
The Mavs kept rolling in the second half, with Moore starting the scoring with a layup and Kravig adding a jumper to expand their lead to 19. Hayes then hit a three to extend the advantage to 22. A pair of Palmer free throws gave CMU a 23-point lead, and Hayes scored her third three-pointer of the game, increasing the lead to 26 at 61-35.
The Mavericks finished the game with a 30-point lead, winning the fourth quarter 24-11. With two minutes to play, CMU emptied their bench, sealing the 76-46 victory. Kravig scored a final three-pointer late in the game to cement the Mavericks’ win.
Kravig extended her on-court impact, notching a season-high four steals.
“Riley is one of our best defenders on the perimeter, she’s got great instincts and […] she’ll get in there and compete with everyone,” Head Coach Taylor Wagner said.
The final stretch of the two-game home stand for the Mavericks came up against Regis University. Regis was 9-11 coming into the game, and the Mavs were riding high on a nine-game win streak.
The Mavericks took control early on, outsourcing Regis 23-12 in the first period. Reed-Thyne opened up scoring in the paint for the Mavs, dropping eight points and six rebounds in the opening minutes.
Kravig added scoring, scoring eight of her 16 in the first period. She also recorded her 500th career assist, suitable for most in program history.
The Mavericks’ early attack proved positive, as scoring remained nearly even throughout the game. The Mavericks put in a solid effort, with four players scoring over 15 points.
By the final buzzer, the Mavs had extended their win streak to 10 games with a 75-60 victory over Regis.
“Defense has really picked up, and we’re starting to take pride in it. I know it’s cliché, but defense wins championships, and we’re feeding off of each other a little bit better,” Wagner said.
The Mavs (17-4, 12-2 RMAC) look to carry momentum into Thursday’s matchup against Ft. Lewis (6-16, 3-11 RMAC). The last meeting between these two teams saw CMU defeat the Skyhawks 75-48, and the Mavs look to maintain their position atop the RMAC standings with an eleventh straight win.
