COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's basketball led for nearly 33 minutes of action on Friday night before falling in the fourth to University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 41-47. Eight Mountaineers scored on the night, with Samantha Coleman delivering a career best 14 points to lead all scorers.
 
In a low-scoring affair at Gallogly Event Center, Coleman accounted for 34% of Western's total points. With her highest tally since November, Coleman went 4-9 from the floor including an impressive 42% from three-point.
 
Jessie Erickson pulled down a career high 11 rebounds on the night as part of Western's 36 board haul.
 
With the loss, Western falls to (6-12, 3-9 RMAC) on the season.
 
Despite leading by as many as ten points in the first half, Western could not shake UCCS (6-11, 6-6 RMAC) in the second half. At the break, Western led UCCS 20-10. They would maintain that edge through the third closing out the quarter with a 28-25 edge.
 
While UCCS shot a paltry 12% from the floor in the first half, the Mountaineers cruised at a 40% clip. But it was a tail of two-halves for both teams. After the break, Western struggled from the floor while UCCS found a rhythm and poured in 52% of their shots.
 
That swing proved to be enough for the Mountain Lions as they gained the edge for the first time with 7:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. Western would tie it up two more times in the fourth before UCCS began to pull away in the final three minutes of play.
 
Western looks for redemption tomorrow at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Saturday's game is set for a 5:00 p.m. tip.