GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's basketball opened the 2017-18 conference schedule on Tuesday night. The Mountaineers traveled to Colorado Mesa University and were primed to defeat the unbeaten Mavericks on their home floor. However, a big second half gave CMU a 46-69 win.
 
Coming off two wins over the weekend in Grand Junction, Western (3-4, 0-1 RMAC) got out to a 15-14 lead after the first quarter.
 
CMU (7-0, 1-0 RMAC) would answer in the second period, taking a 35-23 lead into halftime.
 
The young Mountaineers were unable to climb back into the game, being outscored in the third and fourth quarters.
 
Western was paced by guard Tammarrah Gothard and forward Jadyn Kanzler. Each scored nine points, with Gothard scoring all nine in the second half.
 
The Mountaineer bench accounted for 24 of the team's 46 points.
 
CMU's Jaylyn Duran led all players in scoring with 21 points.
 
The Mountaineers return to Gunnison for their home opening game on Saturday against Westminster College at 5 p.m. in Paul Wright Gym.