Grand Junction, Colo.,   The Western Colorado Women's Basketball team drops final regular season game to Colorado Mesa, Saturday afternoon, on the road, by a score of 56-41.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Colorado Mesa Def. Western Colorado University 56-41
Records: Western Colorado overall 20-7 (RMAC 15-5) | Colorado Mesa overall 23-4 (RMAC 18-2)
Location: Grand Junction, Colo. Brownson Arena

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a minute of action, senior Rachel Cockman made a turnaround jumper in the paint 2-0. Cockman had a defensive block then graduate Jayde Tschritter grabbed the board, resulting in a three made my sophomore Jayda Maves 5-0.
• About five minutes into the game, CMU finally earned their first score 5-2. Sophomore Ivey Schmidt went coast to coast giving WCU a 7-2 edge. A scoreless few minutes later Schmidt hit a deep three 10-2. The Mavericks responded with their first three 10-5 but the next play Schmidt went two-for-two from the charity stripe 12-5.
• The quarter ended with sophomore Alyssa Eckroth at the line, elevating the Mountaineers score 13-5. CMU sunk the first shot of the second, but a seven-point run for WCU, and a scoreless three minutes for the Mavericks, allowed them to take a 20-7 edge.
• Two consecutive threes and a shot in the paint for Mesa closed the gap 20-15, forcing WCU to call a timeout. Off a turnover Schmidt sunk a fifteen-foot jumper 23-15. CMU caught up, some, but WCU went into half with a 28-21 advantage.
• A nine-point run by the Mavericks kicked off the third quarter 30-28. After five plus minutes WCU added to their score 30-29. The Mountaineers were able to tie the score at 32-a-piece, but CMU won the draw 34-32. Multiple trips to the line put them up 40-32. Schmidt hit a long two just before the quarter ended 40-34.
• Tschritter hit a deep three, making it a three-point game to being the final ten minutes 40-37. The Mavericks answered with back-to-back jumpers 44-37. Eckroth successfully completed a spin move to add two 44-39.
• Mesa on an offensive role, hit another three 47-39, then caused a turnover to get another offensive possession. With two minutes left in the game Mesa gained a 53-41 edge. The Mountaineers gave it their all but were unable to outscore CMU.

COURT NOTES 

• Schmidt led the Mountaineers with 15 points, going 5-11 from the field, 3-4 from three and 2-4 from the free throw line. Tschritter followed with 12, going 4-10 from the field, 3-5 from three and 1-2 from the charity stripe. Cockman had 6, Eckroth 5 and Maves 3.
• Schmidt and freshman Penelope Urquhart each recorded two assists. Junior Natalie Jojola has two steals.
• Cockman pulled down 9 boards. Schmidt followed with 4.
• WCU shot 33.3% from the field, 38.9% from three and 50% from the free throw line.

 
UP NEXT
The Mountaineer women's basketball team will host the #7 seed for the quarterfinals of the RMAC tournament on Tuesday March 4 at 6pm.

For more information visit gomountaineers.com