GUNNISON, Colo. – Western Colorado University women's basketball moved one step closer to securing a conference tournament berth. The Mountaineers demolished Adams State University on Friday night at home.
 
Western (16-8, 12-8 RMAC) defeated the Grizzlies 69-45 and are now just one win away from securing the team's first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament bid since the 2011-12 season.
 
The Mountaineers are now 15-1 this season when scoring 60 or more points.
 
Western is tied with University of Colorado Colorado Springs for sixth in the RMAC standings. However, the Mountain Lions hold the tie-breaker against Western. The top eight teams make the tournament and the top four teams host the first games of the tournament.
 
One game ahead of the Mountaineers tied for third in the standings are Metro State University Denver, Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University – Pueblo. Western holds the tie breaker over all three teams and Metro State and CSU-Pueblo face each other on Saturday.
 
 Western got rolling early and led ASU (2-22, 2-18 RMAC) 18-4 after the first quarter. The Mountaineers scored 12 points in the paint in the first 10 minutes and out-rebounded ASU 14-6.
 
The Mountaineers extended that lead to 23 points and led 38-15 at halftime. Jessie Erickson and Jadyn Kanzler each made it into double-figures in scoring after the first 20 minutes. Each had 10 points at the break.
 
The Grizzlies scored 20 points in the third, but the Mountaineers outscored ASU 15-10 in the fourth to earn their second straight win and sweep the season series against the Grizzlies.
 
Kanzler led all players with 18 points. Erickson added 14 and teammate Chandler Willis grabbed 13 rebounds to lead all players.
 
As a team, Western shot 53.7 percent (22-of-41) from the field, while holding ASU to just 25.9 percent (14-of-54) shooting.
 
Western will end the home season schedule on Saturday night against Fort Lewis College at 5 p.m. in Paul Wright Gym.
 
The Mountaineers will honor seniors Savannah Cox, Tammarrah Gothard, Katie Najvar and Willis prior to the start of Saturday's game.