By: A.J. Vazquez, Strategic Communications & Marketing Intern
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – In a rematch of the 2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title game, Colorado Mesa University and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competed in a barnburner, with strong defensive efforts and no easy points allowed in an exciting atmosphere at Brownson Arena.
The game was back and forth, with Colorado Mesa jumping to an early lead, but UCCS making a late surge to challenge the regular-season champions. Colorado Mesa ultimately avenged its 2025 title game loss to UCCS and continued its perfect record against conference opponents this season.
With the win, the Mavericks now await the announcement of their opponent for the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship. They will learn who they face on Sunday, March 8 at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com. The 64-team field will eventually be narrowed to eight regional champions who will advance to Indianapolis. Other conference members remain in contention for the tournament, as at-large bids are still possible.
The Mavericks won the opening tip and jumped to an early 6-0 lead. Colorado Mesa’s Olivia Reed Thyne started the game strong on both sides of the court, scoring the first points of the game, blocking a shot, and then racing down the court to score again. UCCS would close the deficit to one point, but an offensive run from Colorado Mesa ended the first quarter with a score of 25-12.
Halfway through the second quarter, UCCS closed the deficit to four, courtesy of a pair of three-pointers from Gia Bradley and Rylie Ottman, but Reed Thyne was sent to the free throw line and converted the and-one opportunity. UCCS’ Amyah Moore Allen shifted momentum for the Mountain Lions by jumping a Maverick pass and converting the fast-break opportunity. Reed Thyne responded by knocking down a pair of free throws to extend the Mavericks’ lead back to what it originally was. Late in the period, UCCS made a five-point surge to cut the Mavericks’ advantage to three, with Colorado Mesa leading 38-35 at halftime. Reed Thyne led all scorers in the first half with 26 points, while Moore Allen followed with 19.
The second half continued right where the first left off, as UCCS stayed within three until Reed Thyne and Mason Rowland were sent to the line and converted three of their four combined opportunities. UCCS responded by converting two fast-break opportunities to cut the lead to just two points. With 2:15 left in the quarter, UCCS gained its first lead of the game on a second-chance layup from Jayla Jackson-Allen, but a buzzer-beater by Reed Thyne allowed Colorado Mesa to regain the lead, 58-57, heading into the final quarter.
UCCS outscored Colorado Mesa in the second and third quarters, but the Mavericks caught fire after a technical foul was called on the Mountain Lions. Colorado Mesa opened the final quarter on an 11-0 run and finished by outscoring the Mountain Lions 34-10 in the period. UCCS fell, 92-67, and Colorado Mesa was crowned the RMAC women’s basketball champions.
Colorado Mesa’s Mason Rowland led the game with 35 points, shooting a perfect 19-for-19 from the free throw line, which stands as the best mark in Colorado Mesa history and the second-best all-time in Division II. Thirty of Rowland’s points came in the second half. Reed Thyne followed her teammate with 33 points while also pulling down 20 rebounds. UCCS’ Moore Allen led the Mountain Lions with 30 points.
At the conclusion of the game, the 2026 RMAC Women’s Basketball All-Tournament Team was announced. Colorado Mesa’s Olivia Reed Thyne was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and was joined by teammates Mason Rowland, Hallie Clark, and Mykaela Moore. Amyah Moore Allen and Rylie Ottman from UCCS were also named to the team, along with Black Hills State’s Brinlee McRae and Adams State’s Kiiyani Anitielu.
2026 RMAC Women’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team
MVP: Olivia Reed Thyne
Mason Rowland, Colorado Mesa
Hallie Clark, Colorado Mesa
Mykaela Moore, Colorado Mesa
Amyah Moore Allen, UCCS
Rylie Ottman, UCCS
Brinlee McRae, Black Hills State
Kiiyani Anitielu, Adams State
About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 71 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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