The Colorado Mesa women’s basketball team overcame shooting woes throughout its South Central Regional second-round game with Texas Tyler in Denton, Texas, as the Mavericks prevailed 62-58 over the Patriots to advance to the “sweet 16” in the NCAA Division II Championships.  CMU WEB ARTICLE

Three-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Olivia Reed Thyne paced Colorado Mesa with a 31-point, 13-rebound, and 4-blocked shot effort as the Mavericks (35-1) won their 32nd straight game.

For the game against the seventh-seeded Texas Tyler (22-11), third-seeded Colorado Mesa shot 36.7 percent from the field (22 of 60, 7-19, 36.8 percent for 3-point shots) and made only 11 of 21 free throws (52.4 percent).

Saturday’s game was the second meeting between the two schools.  Texas Tyler posted a 68-56 win over Colorado Mesa in the 2024 South Central Region on March 16 in Denton.  POSTGAME MEDIA CONFERENCE

With the victory, Colorado Mesa advanced to the “sweet 16” for the first time since 2014.  The Mavericks play top-seeded Texas Woman’s University (31-1) in the regional final.  Host TWU posted a 70-59 win over UCCS (22-11) in Saturday’s second game.  READ MORE  BOX SCORE

The South Central Regional winner advances to the NCAA Division II Women’s “elite eight” on March 24-28 at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Texas Woman’s is the top-ranked team on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll, with Colorado Mesa listed third.  Texas Woman’s placed second in the 2024 NCAA Division II Championships.  Colorado Mesa advanced to the “Elite Eight” in 2013, its best finish at the nationals.

Friday, March 13 – Regional Quarterfinals

• (3) Colorado Mesa 80, (6) Lubbock Christian 45
• (7) UT Tyler 66, (2) West Texas A&M 56
• (1) Texas Woman’s 68, (8) Eastern New Mexico 49
• (4) UCCS 67, (5) Adams State 62

Saturday, March 14 – Regional Semifinals

• Colorado Mesa 62, UT Tyler 58
• Texas Woman’s 70, UCCS 59

• Colorado Mesa vs. Texas Woman’s, 6 p.m.

NOTE – Mesa’s Olivia Reed Thyne continues to improve her ranking among Colorado collegiate elite as she became the Centennial State’s all-time rebounding leader on Saturday.  Here is where she ranks among all women’s players in the Centennial State.

All-time Colorado Collegiate Women’s Basketball Leaders

Single Season Points (Games, Average), Player, School, Season

1. 824 (36, 22.9), Becky Hammon, Colorado State, 1998-1999
2. 802 (36, 22.28), Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa, 2025-2026
3. 750 (32, 23.4), Sharaya Selsor, Colorado Mesa, 2013-2014
4. 723 (29, 24.9), Alisha Davis Little, CSU Pueblo, 2024-2025
5. 708 (31, 22.8), Savannah Smith, Northern Colorado, 2018-2019
6. 704 (30, 23.5), Becky Hammon, Colorado State, 1997-1998
7. 657 (31, 22.1), Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa, 2024-2025

Career Points (Games, Average), Player, School, Seasons

1. 2,740 (125, 21.9), Becky Hammon, Colorado State, 1995-1999
2. 2,621 (143 18.3), Alisha Davis Little, CSUP/UNC, 2019-2025
3. 2,398 (128, 18.73), Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa, 2022-present
4. 2,185 (127, 17.2), Brittany Spears, Colorado, 2007-2011
5. 2,162 (116, 18.6), McKenna Hofschild, CSU, 2020-2024
6. 2,109 (99, 21.3), Lorna Kollmeyer, Colorado College, 1976-1980
7. 2,067 (115, 18), Lisa VanGoor, Colorado, 1980-1985

Single Season (Games, Average), Player, School, Season

1. 435 (26, 16.7), Pam DeCosta, Colorado Mesa, 1985-1986
2. 414 (36, 11.5), Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa, 2025-2026
3. 405 (29, 13.97), Dominique Skeehan, Adams State, 1983-1984
4. 398 (28, 14.2), Holly Roberts, MSU Denver, 1990-1991
5. 392 (32, 12.3), Lynda Gehrke, Colorado, 1977-1978

Career Rebounds (Games, Average), Player, School, Seasons

1. 1,338 (128, 10.84), Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa, 2022-present
2. 1,382 (143, 9.66), Alisa Davis Little, CSUP/UNC, 2019-2025
3. 1,281 (108, 11.9), Zoë Tomlinson, Colorado College, 2021-2025
4. 1,267 (109, 11.6), Holly Roberts, MSU Denver, 1989-1993
5. 1,256 (105, 11.96), Dominique Skeehan, Adams State, 1981-1985

Top Career Scoring Average (Games, Points), Player, School, Seasons

1. 9 (2,740, 125), Becky Hammon, Colorado State, 1995-1999
2. 3 (2,109, 99), Lorna Kollmeyer, CCC, 1976-1980
3. 7 (1,159, 56), Vanessa Edwards, MSU Denver, 1994-1996
4. 8 (1,725, 92), Tina Redmond, Colorado Christian, 1997-2001
5. 73 (2,398, 128), Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa, 2022-present

Single Game Points, Players, School vs. Opponent, Date

1. 52 Kiiyani Anitielu, Adams State vs. Westminster, 2/15/2025
2. 51 Carroll Lillie, CSU Pueblo vs. Sht. Mary’s, 12/3/1979
3. 46 Lorna Kollmeyer, Colorado College vs. Idaho State, 3/11/1978
4. 45 Kathy Lightfoot, Colorado State vs. CSU Pueblo, 1/5/1982

• 45  Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa vs. Pittsburg State, 12/20/2024

6. 44 Debra Gilbert, Adams State vs. CSU Pueblo, 1/10/1981

• 44  Sherry Vallejos, CSU Pueblo vs. Metro State, 3/2/1991

8. 43 Stacey Goss, Air Force vs. Adams State, 12/6/85
9. 42 Kristi Courter, Colorado Mesa vs. Colorado Mines, 1980

• 42  Sherry Vallejos, CSU Pueblo vs. Mesa State, 2/25/1991
• 42  Becky Hammon, Colorado State vs. San Jose State, 2/20/1997
• 42  Becky Hammon, Colorado State at UNLV, 2/25/1999

13. 41 Stephanie Allen, MSU Denver vs. Colo. Western, 1/3/1998

• 41  Sara Hunte, Colorado St. vs. San Francisco, 3OT, 11/13/2007

15. 40 Tania Ford, Denver at Eastern New Mexico, 1/11/80

• 40  Lauri Nickolaus, Western Colorado vs. Highlands, 2/17/1985
• 40  Teresa James, Colorado State vs. BYU, 2OT, 2/12/1994
• 40  Jennine McWilliams, Fort Lewis vs. Highlands, 2/14/1994
• 40  Sharaya Selsor, Colorado Mesa vs. Chadron St., 12/6/2013
• 40  Chante Church, Regis vs. UC-Colo. Springs, 12/10/2016
• 40  Savannah Smith, Northern Colorado at No. Arizona 3/9/2019
• 40  Savannah Smith, No. Colorado vs. Montana St., 2/25/2019
• 40  Amyah Moore Allen, UCCS vs. Colorado Mines, 2/27/2025
• 40  Olivia Reed, Colorado Mesa vs. Black Hills State, 3/6/2026