GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado women's basketball team was on fire Saturday as it defeated the Colorado Christian 72-42 on Saturday at Paul Wright Gym, including shooting 66.7 percent from the field in the second half to pull away.
 
The Mountaineers (6-1 overall, 5-1 RMAC) never trailed in the contest starting with a steal in the first 19 seconds by Samantha Coleman which led to a Jessie Erickson fast break layup.
 
Western pushed the lead to double digits in the second quarter after Emmery Wagstaff scored in the paint to make it 24-13 as the Mountaineers eventually took a 33-20 lead into the half.
 
Western outscored Colorado Christian (2-5, 2-5) in each quarter – pulling away in the fourth quarter as the Mountaineers outscored the Cougars 23-9 to come away with the 30-point win.
 
Two Mountaineers, Wagstaff and Coleman, hit double-figures – scoring 17 points apiece with each draining three 3-pointers. Three Mountaineers – Hannah Cooper, Jessie Erickson, and Jadyn Kanzler – had seven rebound each and the trio combined for a total of 25 points with Cooper adding a team-high six assists.
 
Brookelyn Hurlburt led CCU with 10 points to go along with four rebounds and three steals.
 
The Mountaineers outrebounded the Cougars, 36-29, and held CCU to 27.3 percent shooting from the field – including 1-for-11 from 3-point range.
 
Next, the Mountaineers will take on Chadron State in Chadron, Nebraska, Friday.