GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado led from start to finish Saturday evening, taking a 77-70 win over visiting Regis University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's basketball action at Paul Wright Gym.

Senior Samantha Coleman poured in a game-high 23 points in the victory, falling just two points shy of her career high.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western Colorado def. Regis, 77-70
Records: Western Colorado 5-6 (3-3 RMAC), Regis 7-5 (3-2)
Location: Paul Wright Gym; Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A foul by Western on the opening tip was an inauspicious start to the game, but it was nothing but positives for the Mountaineers after that as a Ky Buell short jumper made it 2-0 on a scoreboard that would not see the home team trail the rest of the game.
• Lacking a real 'turning point,' the flow of the game was simply a steady drive by Western that only allowed the Rangers to trim its deficit to within a point once, at 24-23 in the second period, and saw the Mountaineers reach a double-digit advantage not until the fourth quarter.
• With its narrowest lead, Western got a layup-and-one from Emmery Wagstaff for a four-point cushion, followed by a Grace Kirscher steal and a Coleman 3-pointer to extend the lead out to seven, 30-23.
• Regis pulled within three on four occasions before the halftime recess, but a 6-3 spurt near the end of the second quarter allowed the Mountaineers to take a six-point advantage, 42-36, into the break.
• The third period ended with Western leading by five, 60-55, but a quick start to the fourth – a Katie Dalton put-back and then a Coleman trey after a defensive rebound by Mia Lozoya – provided the first double-digit advantage of the game.
• Coleman made a driving layup after another Western defensive rebound, elevating the lead to 12, at 67-55, and the Mountaineers cruised home from there.

COURT NOTES

• Coleman was joined in double figures by Buell's 13 points and Dalton's 10. Coleman's total included a 5-for-8 night from behind the arc.
• Rebound totals were equal between the two teams, 36-36, with Buell coming away with seven to lead Western and Regis' Erin Stroberg coming down with a game-best eight in a losing effort.
• The Mountaineers had one of their better shooting nights this season, finishing the win at 51 percent, while limiting the Rangers to a 40% night from the floor.
• One area in which Regis excelled was in transition, scoring 14 fast-break points, to just 3 by Western, but Western got high production from its bench. The Mountaineer reserves contributed 51 of the team's 77 points on the night, outpacing the Ranger bench (37 pts.).

UP NEXT

• Western hits the court again after the New Year, traveling to Rapid City, South Dakota, on January 2 for an RMAC contest at S.D. Mines.
• Regis hosts Black Hills State (S.D.) University in a New Years Eve 2 p.m. conference matinee.