GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's basketball lead New Mexico Highlands for 34 minutes before succumbing in the final minutes 54-57. After dominating on both ends of the floor in the first half, Western faced a resurgent NMHU squad in the second half.
 
Western (4-7, 1-4 RMAC) led by 17 after a hot start in the first quarter of play. Behind efficient shooting and stifling defense, Western only allowed NMHU to score four points in the first 9:24 of the game. In the first, the Mountaineers went on 10 point and nine point runs to which the Cowgirls had no answer.
 
Katie Dalton led Western with 13 points while Carra Jackson-Brown produced her most balanced effort of the season with six points, five rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
 
A balanced Western attack shot 57.4% in the first half while maintaining a massive edge in rebounding. The effort on both ends took the Mountaineers into the locker room with a 12-point lead.   
 
New Mexico Highlands (4-6, 2-3 RMAC) would not recover from the Western onslaught until the third quarter. After the break, the Cowgirls came out hot, hitting three consecutive 3-point baskets in the span of a minute to cut the Western's lead to three.
 
With 5:48 remaining in the third, NMHU took their first lead of the game 35-34 resetting the game as a possession for possession battle until the closing seconds.
 
Behind the post presence of Katie Dalton, the Mountaineers regained the advantage early in the fourth. Dalton led Western in scoring with 11 of her 13 points coming in the final 13 minutes of action.
 
With 3:46 remaining, a Samantha Coleman 3-point basket drew the Mountaineers to within a point 53-52. But the Mountaineers would not regain the lead and a last second 3-point basket rimmed off, leaving the final tally 57-54.
 
Western returns to action tomorrow night versus CSU-Pueblo at 5 p.m. in Paul Wright Gym.