GUNNISON, Colo. --- Western Colorado sophomore Hannah Cooper scored 10 of the team's final 13 points on her way to a career night to help the Mountaineers pull away in the fourth quarter to defeat Black Hills State 81-74 Friday at Paul Wright Gym.

Cooper finished the season-opener with a career-high 34 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists, two blocks and a steal for the Mountaineers (1-0 overall, 1-0 RMAC). The 34 points is tied for the fourth-most ever by a Western player and is the most a Mountaineer since Jen Knight scored 34 against New Mexico Highlands during the 1996-97 season. She went 15-for-16 from the free throw line - tying the school record for most free throws made in a game with Shannon Smart (1992-93 season against Chadron State).

The Mountaineers needed nearly every point as they battled with Black Hills State (0-1, 0-1) through three quarters and trailed 56-55 heading into the fourth quarter.

A Taytem Coleman 3-pointer gave the Mountaineers the lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter at 58-56 before the Yellow Jackets tied with a basket at the 8:25 mark.

Coleman again drained a 3-pointer on an assist from Cooper on the Mountaineers' next possession to give them the lead for what turned out to be for good. Western slowly built on the lead - growing it to eight at 70-62 with 4:20 remaining after a pair of Cooper free throws.

BHSU never got closer than five the rest of the way as the Mountaineers put it away at the free throw line, going 9-for-10 from the line the rest of the way.



Along with Cooper's big night, Emmery Wagstaff in her Mountaineer debut - a transfer from Utah State-Eastern - finished with 15 points off the bench, going 3-for-6 from 3-point range to go along with six rebounds. Coleman had 12 points and drained three 3-pointers while adding a team-high two steals.

As a team, the Mountaineers shot 44.4 percent from the field, including going 7-for-19 from 3-point range (36.8 percent), while going 26-for-33 from the free throw line. BHSU shot 38.6 percent from the field, but made it up by going 9-for-18 (50 percent) from 3-point range and going 21-for-28 from the free-throw line.

Morgan Ham led the Yellow Jackets with 27 points while Racquel Wientjes had 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

With Saturday's game against Chadron State postponed due to COVID-19, the Mountaineers' next game is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against Fort Lewis. No spectators are allowed at the contest.