Paxton Ritchey-CSC Sports Information
CHADRON, Neb. – Colorado Mesa showcased the form that saw the Mavericks projected to win the RMAC in this year’s preseason poll, defeating Chadron State women’s basketball 79-49 Saturday afternoon at the Chicoine Center.
Megan Counts scored 12 points and Allison Richards added 11 for the Eagles, with Counts, Richards and Liberty Line hitting two three-pointers apiece for Chadron State.
The loss drops the CSC women to 3-13 overall and 2-8 in RMAC play. Colorado Mesa remains tied for the RMAC lead at 13-4 overall, 8-2 in conference.
Olivia Reed Thyne led the way for CMU, scoring 30 points on 12 of 18 shooting and adding six rebounds and two steals. Reed Thyne, the reigning RMAC Player of the Year, is the daughter of former CSC men’s basketball coach Houston Reed and played two seasons at Chadron High School.
The Mavericks took control early and never looked back. CMU raced out to a 13-0 lead, outscored the Eagles 24-8 in the first quarter and led 41-16 at halftime. Chadron State did outscore the Mavericks 18-17 in the third quarter, but CMU further extended their lead in the final period.
Colorado Mesa shot an even 50 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three (7-19) and 70 percent from the line (14-20). The Mavericks, and in particular Reed, went to work inside and outscored CSC in the paint 42-14 and outrebounded the Eagles 38-27.
Chadron State was 32.6 percent from the field (15-46), 27.3 percent from three (6-22) and 76.5 percent from the line (13-17).
Counts had one of her better games of the year, playing a season-high 27 minutes and finishing with her second-highest point total this season. Counts hit three-pointers for each of Chadron State’s first two made field goals of the game and tallied eight of her 12 in the first half.
Counts and Bati Assefa each finished with six rebounds and two steals, sharing the team lead in those categories.
Chadron State has a quick turnaround, playing South Dakota Mines next Tuesday in Rapid City before hosting Black Hills State on Thursday in the Chicoine Center at 5 p.m.