This game recap is presented by MAA Corporate Partner McDonald's
GUNNISON, Colo. - In the first 2014-15 home game, the Western State Colorado University women's basketball team gave fans some free basketball. The Mountaineers played 10 extra minutes before defeating New Mexico Highlands University 76-66 Friday night in Paul Wright Gym.
The first home victory of the season also doubles as the first conference victory of the year for Western (2-5, 1-2 RMAC).
The Mountaineers led NMHU (3-4, 2-1 RMAC) for nearly the entire game. Thanks in large part to Western's first half defense. Western forced 16 NMHU turnovers in the first half and held the Cowgirls to just 26.1 percent shooting from the field (6-of-23).
Holding NMHU to just 16 points in the first half, Western took a 29-16 lead into halftime.
Taking care of the basketball in the second half, the Cowgirls began to climb back into the game. Down nine with 3:59 remaining, NMHU scored three three-pointers on the following four possessions to push the game into overtime.
With 39 seconds left in the first overtime, Western's
Stephanie Williams (RFr., Cerritos, California) hit a running layup to put the Mountaineers up five points. Williams scored eight of her 12 points in overtime. Just as it seemed Western was in control of the game, a Cowgirl three-pointer and two made free throws sent the game into a second overtime.
After giving up the first two points of the second overtime, Western would score 15 of the next 18 points to earn their first conference win of the season, 76-66.
Western's bench outscored NMHU 48-13, in large part due to
Jade McIntosh's (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colorado) game-leading 24 points. McIntosh also brought down 10 boards, recording her second double-double of the season.
The Mountaineers' scoring attack was also aided by
Ajai Ford's (Jr., Los Angeles, California) 14 points and
Sydnie Lengyel's (So., Tempe, Arizona) 10 points.
Western won't wait long to try and win their second conference game of the season. The Mountaineers host Western New Mexico University Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Paul Wright Gym.
