GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Regis University Ranger women's basketball started slow and could never fully gain any sort of consistent offensive momentum to split on the weekend falling 70-60 to the Colorado Mesa Mavericks (17-8, 14-7 RMAC).

The Mavericks stunned RU at the start of the game holding them scoreless throughout the first four and a half minutes to hold a 12-0 lead. Purdy finally got Regis on the board with a jumper. The scoring slump continued throughout the first quarter for the Rangers as they trailed 21-13.

Regis turned it around in the second quarter to hold Colorado Mesa to just ten points. The Rangers went on a 13-0 run halfway through the second not allowing the Mavericks to a single field-goal to gain control of the lead at the break 34-31. 

Immediately at the start of the third CMU kicked it back into gear regaining the lead at the at the 6:30 mark. The hosts would continue to hold their lead while even pushing it to double-digits, 48-38, at the 4:20 minute mark in the third.

The Rangers kept fighting but struggled to get over the hump and come within striking distance. An early 7-0 fourth quarter run capped with a three from Purdy brought RU within seven, 57-50. Mary Sigler drained one from distance shortly after to bring Regis within four, 57-53, at the halfway point of the fourth.

Colorado Mesa quickly responded pushing the score back to a double-digit lead forcing RU to a timeout. Regis was unable to recover from the Mavericks final offensive surge as they move to an overall record of 17-10 and 15-6 in the RMAC.

Kaylie Rader led the Rangers offensively with 13 going 6-of-8 from the field. Rader also added seven rebounds and three assists. Caresse Williams and Sigler chipped in with 11 and ten points, respectively, combining for 5-of-10 from the field. Williams also had five of RU's 12 assists.

Both teams finished even in the rebound column at 33 a piece. The Rangers and Mavericks were also fairly even in field-goal percentage as RU shot 42.6 percent to CMU's 40 percent. Regis largely outshot Colorado Mesa from distance at 50 to 25.8 percent but it was the Mavericks that visited the charity stripe fair more often going 22-of-27 to RU's 12-of-17. 

RU will return to their home court for the final RMAC regular season game against Chadron State on Friday, February 26 at 5 p.m.