RAPID CITY, S.D. --- In a tight contest that saw neither team lead by more than five points heading into the fourth quarter, the Western Colorado women's basketball team pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat South Dakota Mines 80-74 on Saturday at the King Center.
 
The Mountaineers' Samantha Coleman drained a 3-pointer at the 6:13 mark to break a 6-0 run by the Hardrockers (4-7, 2-5) to push the WCU (7-4, 5-2) lead back to four points at 66-62. It also ignited a 7-0 run for the Mountaineers over the next minute to increase the lead to 70-62 with 5:18 left.
 
Mines cut the lead to 70-67 before Hannah Cooper scored in the paint to make it a five-point game.
 
The Mountaineers closed out the game at the line, going 8-for-8 in the final minutes to secure the win (WCU went 15-for-15 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and 22-for-24 overall in the contest).
 
Cooper, a freshman, had her best statistical game as a Mountaineer – setting career highs with 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocks to go along with three steals. Gabie Doud added a season-high 21 to go along with eight rebounds while Taytem Coleman had 16 points and four steals. Coleman also had a key stretch in the third quarter where she drained three 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds to give WCU a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Mountaineers shot 46.3 percent from the field in the game, including 8-for-16 from 3-point range while forcing 18 turnovers compared to committing just 13. Mines shot 42.9 percent from the field, including 12-for-29 from 3-point range (the Hardrockers made eight of those in the first quarter).
 
Overall, the lead changed 16 times and the game was tied at 12 different times.
 
The Mountaineers return home next week as they take on CSU-Pueblo 5:30 p.m. Friday and New Mexico Highlands 5 p.m. Saturday.