GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- The Hardrockers were no match for the Colorado Mesa offense on Saturday evening, as they were competitive for a quarter, but then the Maverick offense took a double-digit lead and never looked back.
Early in the first quarter, the two teams would trade baskets early. Going into the first timeout at 5:14 the Mavericks held a 7-6 lead. A jumper hit by
Madelyn Heiser just outside the paint gave the Hardrockers an early lead only to be answered by 5 points from Mariah Martin and Sophie Anderson. South Dakota Mines would continue to play solid defense, cutting it to two momentarily on a
Melissa Johnstone jumper. Colorado Mesa would take a 16-10 lead before South Dakota Mines would score 4 straight, cutting the deficit to two. A last-second three by Kelsey Siemons gave Mesa a 19-14 lead to end the first.
Early in the second Colorado Mesa would grab the momentum, going on a 7-0 run, opening up a double-digit, 28-16 lead before a brief stoppage due to a clock error. The run would extend to 11-0 with the Mavericks up 33-16 before a South Dakota Mines timeout. Out of the timeout,
Bailey Johnson got to the hoop hitting a layup, and got the harm, hitting the free throw to convert the three-point play. She would start heating up, getting another bucket on the next possession. South Dakota Mines would continue to score, but couldn't get the stops defensively, as the two teams were just trading baskets, as the deficit would stay at 17 points with 2:15 to go in the half. Going into the locker rooms, Colorado Mesa held a 46-27 lead.
Early in the third, Colorado Mesa would continue to roll, going up 55-31.
Anna Combalia would hit a three midway through the third to give the Hardrockers some life, but South Dakota Mines had no answer for Colorado Mesa's offense as the Mavericks continued to score, taking a 70-42 lead into the fourth.
In the fourth, Colorado Mesa was able to put it on cruise control and finished the game up, winning 89-55.
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
