GUNNISON, Colo. – Led by the tandem of Tammarrah Gothard and Katie Dalton, Western State Colorado University women's basketball posted an upset victory, 62-58, over Colorado Mesa University. In front of large white-out crowd, Western battled for four quarter before capturing the win over their West Slope rival.
 
In a back-and-forth contest that saw five lead changes and five ties, the Mountaineers prevailed in the fourth quarter.
 
With 7:54 remaining in the game, Cara Jackson-Brown streaked to the basket on a fastbreak lay-up giving the Western (7-15, 4-12 RMAC) a 45-44 lead. It would be the last lead change of the night as the Mountaineers buckled down on defense and hit crucial shots to hold-off Colorado Mesa (16-6, 10-6 RMAC) down the stretch.
 
Western dominated the lane, scoring 32 points in the paint. Katie Dalton's 14-point post presence combined with a slashing 14 point effort Tammarrah Gothard proved enough too much for the Mavericks. Gothard fell one rebound shy of the double-double while Dalton finished one board shy of her highest rebound tally of the season.
 
Western shot 48.9% from the floor with four-players scoring at least seven points in the game. The Mountaineers also had one of their best nights from three-point, shooting 50% from deep in both halves.
 
Leading through most of the first half, the Mountaineers hit the locker room up 31-26. After the break, Colorado Mesa took advantage of a slow third quarter for Western.
 
But the Mountaineers were undaunted and keep the inside-outside threat alive with Dalton's post presence and timely three-point shooting.
 
Following the win, Western hits the road to Salt Lake City, Utah for a match up with Westminster College on Friday.