By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa University, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s preseason favorite, opened the season, splitting a pair of games in Texas last weekend, with junior Olivia Reed Thyne and sophomore guard Mason Rowland earning the league’s first weekly awards of the season, announced Tuesday.
 
Offensive Player of the Week:
Olivia Reed Thyne, Colorado Mesa (Junior, Forward, Windsor, Colorado)
Reed Thyne opened the season with an impressive 30-10 double-double, averaging 24.5 points and 11.0 rebounds, leading Colorado Mesa to a split of its opening weekend games. She led the Mavericks' second-half rally against West Texas A&M, finishing with a 32-point, 13-rebound double-double that included two assists, two steals, and two blocks. It is one of only 14 30-point outings across Division II during the opening two weekends. Reed Thyne followed that with a 17-point, nine-rebound effort in a 79-76 win against Texas Permian Basin, adding another two assists and two blocks to her start.
 
Honorable Mention: Taejhuan Hill, Adams State; Morgan Hammerbeck, Black Hills State; Camren Morris, Chadron State; Maggie Hutka, Colorado Christian; Mikylah Espinosa, MSU Denver; Juliana Aragon, New Mexico Highlands; Erin Fry, Regis; Maison White, UCCS; Natalie Jojola, Western Colorado; Teuila Nawahine, Westminster.
 
Defensive Player of the Week:
Mason Rowland, Colorado Mesa (Sophomore, Guard, Durango, Colorado)
Rowland made a statement in her first collegiate start with six steals, and she finished the week with nine steals and 14 rebounds (10 defensive) as Colorado Mesa opened the season by splitting its two games. In the Mavericks’ 80-78 loss to West Texas A&M, Rowland debuted with six steals and seven rebounds while scoring 20 points. She helped CMU rebound with a 79-76 victory against Texas Permian Basin, recording three steals and seven rebounds while chipping in 19 points and four assists.
 
Honorable Mention: Taejhuan Hill, Adams State; Kalla Bertram, Black Hills State; Bati Assefa, Chadron State; Jackie Pippett, MSU Denver; Amaris Valadez, New Mexico Highlands; Jessica Bollwahn, Regis; Amyah Moore Allen, UCCS; Brooklyn Seymour, Western Colorado; Maunayia Harrigfeld, Westminster.

About the RMAC
The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with 15 member schools. The RMAC sponsors 22 varsity NCAA sports and has produced 65 NCAA Division II national champions and 52 national runners-up since 1992.