GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Dixie State women’s basketball team fell just short of getting its first victory Saturday. Point guard Leslie Tademy’s 3-point shot with no time showing failed to connect, giving Colorado Mesa the victory, 64-61 at the Colorado Mesa Invitational.
The Red Storm played CMU even through the first quarter. The Mavericks tied DSU with one second remaining in the first with two free throws to put the score at 18 apiece. Dixie State would not recapture the lead again until late in the game.
The second quarter proved to be DSU’s undoing. The Mavericks outscored the visitors 16-7 in the quarter. The Red Storm missed all of their shots (13) from the field. They hit 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to keep CMU in sight, ending the half looking at a 34-25 deficit.
In the second half, Dixie State won both quarters, but could not close the final gap. In the third, it looked as if the Mavericks would run away with the game. Bryanna Adams’ 3-pointer with 5:23 remaining in the quarter capped a 10-5 run to give CMU its largest lead of the game, 44-30.
The Storm chipped away at the lead and eventually pulled it back to within seven points on a jumper by Shantel Roberts just before the end of the third. The Red Storm went into the final stanza down 48-41.
In the fourth, Dixie State pounded the ball inside as post players Taylor Mann, Nishiki Washington and Ashlee Burge all put in buckets. The strategy seemed to be working when Mann’s layup with three minutes remaining gave the Storm a 58-57 lead.
A three-point play by CMU post Siu Lo’amanu put the Mavericks back up by two. Tademy then hit one of two free throws to pull within one 60-59 with 1:36 remaining. After the Storm held defensively, the Mavericks Nicole Archambeau stole the ball and assisted Lo’amanu for a layup to give CMU a three-point margin with 52 seconds left.
Aliya Davis failed to connect on a tying 3-pointer and Tramina Jordan was forced to foul with 13 seconds left. The Mavericks Sydney Small went to the line and hit one of two for the four-point lead.
Mann quickly scored at the other end to pull DSU within two. A quick foul sent Lo’amanu to the line with two seconds remaining. Lo’amanu hit the second to give the Mavericks the final three-point difference.
The Storm out-shot CMU 38-32 percent in field goal shooting and out-rebounded the Mavericks 43-39. Dixie State fell short in the turnover department, committing five more than its counterparts.
Individually, Mann led the Storm with 22 points and nine rebounds. Washington also scored in double-figures with 13. Chermayne Moore finished with eight points and led the team with four assists. Tademy had six points and 10 rebounds.
The Storm drop to 0-5. They will begin PacWest Conference play this Thursday in Riverside, Calif., against Cal-Baptist. Game time is set for 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
Stats: CMU 64, DSU 61
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