SPEARFISH, S.D. --- The Western Colorado women's basketball team led for 37 consecutive minutes against Black Hills State on Friday night, but unfortunately the Mountaineers didn't have the advantage when it counted most after being outscored 12-3 in the fourth quarter as they fell to the Yellow Jackets 49-47 at Donald E. Young Center.
 
WCU (6-4 overall, 4-2) jumped out to a 9-0 lead on BHSU (7-4, 4-2), led by as much as 15 points and never trailed until a three-point play by the Yellow Jackets' Racquel Wientjes with 1:39 remaining in the contest.
 
The Mountaineers missed a shot with a minute left and then allowed an offensive rebound on BHSU's next possession and were forced to foul with nine seconds remaining. The Yellow Jackets hit one of two to make it 49-47.
 
After a timeout moved the ball up to midcourt, Hannah Cooper drove to the basket, but was called for a charge to give the ball back to the Yellow Jackets with a second left and WCU never got another chance.
 
The Mountaineers finished the fourth quarter going 1-for-11 from the field and finished the game shooting 38.1 percent from the field – though they were 2-for-13 from 3-point range and were 13-for-20 from the free-throw line. WCU was also hurt by committing 21 turnovers in the contest – leading to 23 points off turnovers for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Katie Dalton led WCU with 14 points to go along with four rebounds, two steals and a block. Cooper had eight points and four rebounds while Jessie Erickson had seven points. The Mountaineers held BHSU to 28.9 percent shooting (including 2-for-16 from 3-point range), but the Yellow Jackets went 21-for-27 from the free-throw line.
 
The Mountaineers close out the road trip 4 p.m. Saturday as they travel to take on South Dakota Mines.