GUNNISON, Colo. --- A huge first half from Gabie Doud and a strong fourth quarter for the Western Colorado women's basketball team helped it win a battle between teams tied for third in the RMAC as the Mountaineers defeated Fort Lewis 84-72 on Friday night at Paul Wright Gym.

Doud scored 24 of her career-high 28 points in the first 20 minutes to help WCU (10-4 overall, 8-2 RMAC) hold a 42-39 halftime lead before the Mountaineers pulled away from the Skyhawks (11-4, 7-4) - ranked 10th in the South Central region - in the fourth quarter, outscoring FLC 18-11 in the final period.

The Mountaineers held a 62-61 lead with 40 seconds left in the third quarter before baskets by Jessie Erickson and Hannah Cooper before the end of the period increased the lead to five at 66-61 heading to the fourth.

Cooper drained a 3-pointer early in the fourth to make it a nine-point lead at 70-61 and the advantage grew to double figures midway through the quarter on another basket by Cooper to make it 74-64.

The Skyhawks wouldn't get closer than eight points the rest of the game - and fell behind by as much as 15 - over the final five minutes as WCU moved into a third place by itself - a game behind Westminster for second and two games back of first-place Colorado Mesa.

To go along with 28 points, Doud added nine rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. Cooper finished with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds while Katie Dalton had 15 points, four rebounds and three blocks.

The Mountaineers shot 50 percent from the field, including going 9-for-22 (40.9 percent) from 3-point range. They also went 17-for-20 from the free-throw line.

WCU returns to action 5 p.m. Saturday as they host Adams State.