CHADRON — The Colorado Mesa women’s basketball team shot 50 percent from the field and used a stifling man-to-man defense to limit Chadron State to just 25 percent shooting during an 87-43 victory in the opening game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule for both teams here Friday night.The Mavericks, now 5-0 for the season, held a 38-11 bulge at halftime and then connected on 62.5 percent (20-32) of their field goal attempts in the second half.Mesa was led in scoring by Kelsey Sigl, a 6-foot senior and the RMAC’s preseason player of the year, with 17 points. Bruna Deichmann, a 5-9 senior, came off the bench to score 15 points and collected seven rebounds.

Also for the Mavericks, Hanna Bowden scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, and Effo Baker added 10 points and passed out six assists.

Dallas Shaw scored 11 points and both Kattie Ranta and Kate Simonton added 10 for the Eagles, now 0-4.

The pressure Mesa applied on defense forced 20 turnovers by the Eagles in the first half. CSC had just six turnovers in the second half and also was 13 of 17 from the free throw line after not going to the line in the opening half.

CSC will host Western State tonight (Saturday) at 6 while Colorado Mesa will visit Black Hills State in more conference action.

Con Marshall, CSC Information Services