LAKEWOOD, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's basketball team overcame struggles at the line and keeping Colorado Christian off the offensive glass by using a strong third quarter to defeat the Cougars 60-49 on Friday at the CCU Events Center.
 
The Mountaineers (13-5 overall, 11-3 RMAC) shot just 17-for-29 from the free-throw line (58.6 percent) – including 10-for-21 until the final 2:30 of the game – and allowed a season-high 15 offensive rebounds (leading to 13 second-chance points for the Cougars), but outscored CCU (6-14, 6-8) 17-6 in the third quarter to turn a two-point halftime lead into a 13-point advantage and held on for the victory.
 
Leading 35-32 early in the third quarter, WCU used a Jadyn Kanzler bucket and a Samantha Coleman 3-pointer to increase the lead to eight. The Mountaineers ended the quarter on a 7-0 run that included another Coleman 3-pointer to push the advantage to 13 points at 49-36 heading into the fourth.
 
The Cougars cut the lead to four points at 53-49 with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter as WCU struggled offensively (WCU went 0-for-4 from the field in the fourth), but despite struggles in the first three quarter, the Mountaineers clutched up at the line the rest of the way – going 7-for-8 to put the game away.
 
Samantha Coleman led three Mountaineers in double figures with 14 points, Taytem Coleman finished with 13 points (going 3-for-5 from 3-point range) and three steals while Hannah Cooper had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.
 
The Mountaineers held CCU to 32.1 percent shooting from the field, including 2-for-18 from 3-point range.
 
WCU returns to action 3 p.m. Saturday as the Mountaineers take on Regis in Denver.