COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- The No. 8 Western Colorado women's basketball team jumped out to a 21-0 lead and cruised to a 74-40 victory Thursday at Gallogly Events Center.
 
With the victory, the Mountaineers moved to 9-1 overall on the season (8-1 RMAC) – equaling their best one-loss start in program history with the 1980-81 team.
 
A Nadia Trevizo-Medina layup on an assist from Jessie Erickson a minute into the game started the 21-0 run to start the contest – capped by a Mikaela Parker layup with 1:29 left in the first quarter.
 
The Mountain Lions (2-8, 2-8) scored their first point on a free throw with 43 seconds left on the quarter before a basket from Samantha Coleman with 10 seconds left made it 23-1 Western after one. UCCS went 0-for-16 in the first quarter and converted its first field goal on a basket 12 seconds into the second period.
 
The Mountaineers cruised from there as they picked up their fourth win in a row. The 40 points allowed is the fewest by Western since allowing 36 to Colorado School of Mines on Dec. 7, 2018.
 
Hannah Cooper had 15 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Mountaineers while Parker added 15 points (on 7-for-8 shooting), four rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Erickson had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
 
Western outrebounded UCCS 44-32 and forced 14 Mountain Lion turnovers.
 
In the contest, Coleman moved to No. 9 on the all-time scoring list with 966 points – moving past Pam Lane's total of 965 points.
 
The Mountaineers return to action Tuesday as they host Colorado Mesa in a key RMAC matchup.