GUNNISON, Colo. Western Colorado showed every in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference they better be ready for them when they take the court as they narrowly lost to Texas Woman's University – who was picked to finish third in the Lone Star Conference preseason polls. The Mountaineers were picked to finished 12th in the RMAC preseason polls.
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Texas Woman's def. Western Colorado 57-55
Records: Western Colorado 0-1, Texas Woman's 1-0.
Location: Paul Wright Gym; Gunnison, Colo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Things started out slow for the Mountaineers – being outscored 15-4 in the first quarter, Hayley Valencia and Emmery Wagstaff each scoring two-points apiece in the quarter. However, they regrouped before the second quarter started leading to them catching fire in the second quarter.
- Down 22-13 with 6:42 left in the second quarter, Western went on a 6-0 run being led by a Brooklyn Seymour, Valencia and Wagstaff layups, trimming the lead to 22-17. The Pioneers earned the next point, increasing their lead to seven points.
- But once again the Mountaineers responded, thanks to back-to-back baskets by Wagstaff, cutting the lead to 24-21. Three points was the closet Western got to tying the game as Texas Woman's went on a 4-0 run to end the quarter, helping them hold a 30-23 lead at halftime. In the second quarter the Mountaineers outscored the pioneers 19-15.
- Coming out of halftime, Western scored five-points relatively quick off a Rachel Cockman layup after an offensive rebound and three-pointer from Sam Gueller. Unfortunately, the Mountaineers were unable to build off that resulting in the Pioneers going on a 9-0 over the next 3:45.
- Cockman helped stop the run, sinking back-to-back layups. But, once again Texas Woman's responded closing out the third quarter on 4-2 run – Seymour making a jumper with 37 seconds left in the quarter.
- The fourth quarter belonged to the Western, who outscored Texas Woman's 21-11.
- The Mountaineers wasted no time chipping away at the Pioneers lead, starting the fourth quarter on a 16-6 run that lasted about five minutes. That run was led by Cockman who scored eight-points, Wagstaff who pitched in with six -points – making a three pointer and sinking three free throws – and Seymour who knocked down a jumper.
- Down 54-52 with 2:27 left on the clock – after Cockman made a layup - Wagstaff knocked down a three-pointer, giving Western their first lead (55-54) of the game.
- Sadly, that was the Mountaineers final points of the game as Texas Woman's closed the game out on a 3-0 to walk away with the victory.
COURT NOTES
- Cockman led the way with a career high 18-points, on 9-of-13 shooting, while also grabbing eight rebounds and recording one block. Wagstaff also had a solid game contributing with 15-points, six rebounds, two steals and one block. Seymour also had a career night, recording her first double-double of her career, dropping a career high 10 points and grabbing a career high 11 rebounds.
- As a whole, the Mountaineers shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the field, 16.7 percent (4-of-24) from three and 100 percent (3-of-3) from the free thrown line.
- Additionally, Western scored 38-points in the paint, 20 second chance points, eight points off turnovers and had the bench pitch in with nine-points.
UP NEXT
Western will be back on the court tomorrow (Nov. 12) taking on Angelo State at 7 p.m., in the final game of the Colorado Classic.
