The Mesa State Women’s basketball team traveled to Chico, California to take on Chico State (2-0) and Sonoma State (3-0).

Friday night, the Mavs shot well from beyond the arc, shooting 50% in the first half (2-4) and 40% in the second (4-10). Although, it did hurt that they had 27 turnovers and were only able to get to the free throw line 16 times on the night, just twice in the entire second half.

Mesa came out strong, hitting the first bucket of the game and keeping the lead for the majority of the first half. At one point Mesa had a ten point lead on Chico with less than ten minutes to go in the first half, until Renee Goldoff sparked a 13-4 run. Audriana Spencer tied the game at 28-28 on a 3-pointer and then Chico would finish the half on a 12-2 run, going into the locker room leading 40-30. Chico came out in the second half scoring the first six points to set the tone and would eventually take over the game winning 80-55.

Freshman Courtney McCaig played well for the Mavs making all of her shots for 10 points. Senior guards Lindsey Kame and Brittany Fowler led the team in points and rebounds, Kame with 11 points and three rebounds and Fowler with 14 points and four boards.

Although the Mavs lost to Sonoma State Saturday night, they were more pleased with their effort. They improved in all three categories, FG%, 3-point FG%, and free throws, and also had fewer turnovers. The Mavs were also more balanced in scoring, with 4 of the 5 starters in double-digits.

The Mavs did not get out to as good of a start, with Sonoma jumping out to an early 15-2 lead. By the end of the first half, Sonoma had a 35-24 lead on the Mavs. Mesa cut the lead to just five points within the first four minutes of the second half, and would later tie the game at 50-50 with less than nine minutes to play and twice more before taking a 57-54 lead with a 3-pointer by Kame with under seven minutes to go. But it would be all Sonoma after that as they went on to win 81-69.

Fowler led Mesa with 19 points and added five boards, while Cassie Hutto led the team in rebounding with seven and also contributed 17 points. Kelsie Gourdin chipped in 16 points and Kame had 14.

Next, the Mavs will be at Brownson Arena for the first time this season, hosting the Holiday Inn Classic. They play Hope International Friday at 7 PM and Ca. Penn on Sunday at Noon.

---MAVS---