DURANGO, Colo.  Western Colorado snapped their four-game losing streak on Tuesday, defeating Fort Lewis College 59-56 on the road in Whalen Gymnasium.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score:  Western Colorado def. Fort Lewis 59-56.
Records: Western Colorado 3-5, Fort Lewis 1-8.
Location: Whalen Gymnasium; Durango, Colo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Katie Dalton led the charge in the beginning of the game scoring five points off a two pointer and three free throws to give Western an early 9-4 lead with 6:02 left to go in the first quarter.
• Fort Lewis didn't let that lead last for long, as they battled back and managed to hold a brief three-point lead. Before the quarter ended, Rachel Cockman and Grace Kirscher each made a layup to give the Mountaineers a 17-16 lead.
• Dalton continued to make baskets for Western in the second quarter, adding seven points to her total (12). But the Skyhawks outscored the Mountaineers by one-point resulting in the game being tied 31-31 at halftime.
• It appeared Western was going to be down by three heading into the fourth quarter. However, Kirscher knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 44-44. With 1.3 seconds left in the third, the Mountaineers committed a costly foul that led to them being down by two-points.
• Free throws played a huge factor in the fourth quarter for Western as they went 7-of-8, all seven makes coming in the final three minutes of the ball game.
• Cockman knocked down two free throws first to give Western a two-point lead, then Samantha Coleman did the same, while Kirscher went for 1-for-2 helping the Mountaineers hold a 57-54 lead. Coleman sealed the game away with four seconds left, knocking down two more free throws.

COURT NOTES

• Dalton was the leading scorer and rebounder for Western with 16 points and six rebounds. Coleman and Kirscher were right behind Dalton, pitching in with 12 and 11 points of their own.
• For Fort Lewis, Sydney Candelaria was their leading scorer and rebounder recording 24 points and seven rebounds.
• The Mountaineers did a good job taking care of the basketball, only turning it over 10 times. Which is good when factoring in they average 17.4 per game this season.
• Western also shot better from the free throw line compared to their average (64.9%), making 17-of-24 (70.8%).

UP NEXT
Western will return to Paul Wright Gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 11, when they take on Metropolitan State University of Denver at 5 p.m.