GUNNISON, Colo. A dominant first quarter by Western Colorado ended up being the difference in the ball game, as they held on to defeat Colorado State University Pueblo 65-58.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado def. CSU-Pueblo 65-58.
Records: Western Colorado 8-7, CSU-Pueblo 14-5.
Location: Paul Wright Gym; Gunnison, Colo.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountaineers came ready to go on offense and defense to start the game, resulting in them scoring 23 points while limiting CSU-Pueblo to 5-points in the first quarter. Samantha Coleman got things going for Western knocking down a jumper and a three-pointer that sparked a 9-0 run.
• Things evened out in the second quarter – the Thunderwolves outscoring the Mountaineers 19-18. But, Coleman continued her dominant start in the second quarter, scoring 8 of the Mountaineers 18-points, helping Western have an 41-24 lead at halftime.
• Despite the Mountaineers offense cooling off in the third quarter – only scoring nine-points – they still had a 12-point lead as they went into the fourth quarter.
• CSU-Pueblo managed to cut the lead to four-points (50-46) with 8:03 left to play. Unfortunately for the Thunderwolves that would be the closet they got to potentially tying the game.
• A few seconds later, Grace Kirscher made a lay-up, then Katie Dalton converted and-one to give Western a nine-point lead with 5:19 left to play.
• Both teams exchanged baskets until the 1:32 mark when Kirscher knocked down a three-pointer and was followed by Natalie Jojola who sunk two free throws to help the Mountaineers come away with the victory.

COURT NOTES

• Coleman led the way for Western scoring 16-points, and had help from Dalton and  Kirscher who pitched in with 14 and 10-points of their own.
• Defensively, Emmery Wagstaff and Anda Kuzmina had a great game, each recording two steals.
• The Mountaineers had a better field goal percentage (48.8), three-point percentage (53.3) and free throw percentage (71.4) compared to CSU-Pueblo.
• The Thunderwolves were led by Jazzy Hughes who had 12-points, followed by Alisha Davis and Kansas Watts who each pitched in with 10-points.
• CSU-Pueblo shot 42.4 percent from the field, 14.3 percent from three and 50 percent from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Western will be on the road for their next two games. The Mountaineers will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah on Friday, Jan. 28 to take on Westminster at 5:30 p.m., then they will head to Grand Junction to take on Colorado Mesa at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29.