The Colorado Mesa women’s basketball team faces its biggest obstacle of the 2025-2026 season on Monday in Denton, Texas, when the third-ranked Mavericks challenge top-ranked Texas Woman’s University in the finals of the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals.
The two teams meet at 6 p.m. at TWU’s Kitty Magee Arena, both entering with long winning streaks after each won its conference title in an undefeated fashion.
Colorado Mesa is 35-1 with a 32-game winning streak, its last setback coming on November 14 in an 85-70 loss at West Texas State A&M. Since then, the Mavericks have been 20-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season play, followed by three straight wins in the league’s post-season tournament at home.
Texas Woman’s is 31-1 with a 30-game victory string. The Pioneer’s only loss was a 75-59 decision to Harding at Magee Arena on November 8. Like Mesa, TWU was 20-0 during the Lone Star Conference regular season with three wins at the league’s post-season tournament in Frisco, Texas.
In the South Central Regional this weekend, Colorado Mesa eliminated Lubbock Christian 80-65 on Friday before overcoming shooting woes in the Mavericks 62-58 win over Texas Tyler at Magee Arena on Saturday. READ MORE
Playing on its home floor, where they have won 13 of 14 games this season, Texas Woman’s posted double-digit wins over Eastern New Mexico, 68-49, and UC Colorado Springs, 70-59. READ MORE
Leading Colorado Mesa are three-time RMAC player of the year, senior Olivia Reed Thyne (22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds per game), and sophomore Mason Rowland (18.2 points, 3.8 assists). The pair averages 40.5 points per game, while the Mavericks average 76.1 points per game.
Gabby Elliott and Averee Kleinhans are the TWU leaders, as both players joined Reed Thyne and Rowland on the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-South Central Region team.
Elliott is averaging 16.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while shooting over 54 percent from the field. Kleinhans is averaging 16.3 points and 3.1 assists per game. In the regional, Jada Celsur has been the Pioneer leader with 34 points in the two games.
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 placed second in the 2024 NCAA Division II Championships. Colorado Mesa advanced to the “Elite Eight” in 2013, its best finish at the nationals.
Hosted by TWU at Kitte Magee Arena, Denton, Texas (BRACKET)
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.
