GUNNISON, Colo. – Nine of 12 Western State Colorado University women's basketball players reached the scoring column on Tuesday night. However, the Mountaineers were unable to outscore Colorado Mesa University in Paul Wright Gym, falling 71-42 in the conference opener.
 
Western (1-4, 0-1 RMAC) played CMU (4-1, 1-0 RMAC) closely in the first quarter. The Mavericks had just a three point lead, 16-13 heading into the second quarter.
 
The Mavericks used the second quarter to pull away from the Mountaineers, outscoring Western 21-10 in the second stanza. CMU would take a 37-23 into halftime.
 
The Mountaineers were unable to cut into the Maverick first half lead, losing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opening game, 71-42.
 
Out of the nine players that reached the scoring column, Western had five players score five or more points. Kaylynn Bush led all Mountaineers, scoring nine points in 18 minutes played.
 
Sydnie Lengyel led Western in rebounding, grabbing six, while scoring seven points.
 
Sydney Small led all players in scoring. The Maverick scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field.
 
The Mountaineers scored 25 points off the bench, which accounted for nearly 60 percent of the team's 42 points.
 
Western will be on the court again this Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Mountaineers will face Westminster College at 5:30 p.m.