GUNNISON, Colo.  Brooklyn Seymour lead a trio of Mountaineers into double figures Saturday evening but Western Colorado wasn't able to bounce back from a pair of second-half runs by visiting Angelo State University, getting tripped up by the Rambelles, 66-51, in non-conference women's basketball action on the closing night of the 2022 Conference Challenge.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Angelo State def. Western, 66-51
Records: Western 0-2, Angelo State 2-0
Event: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and Lone Star Conference 'Conference Challenge'
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Alyza Aikins' driving layup that beat the buzzer just before the end of the second quarter drew Western back within five, 30-25, as the teams headed off the court for recess. The initial six minutes of the third quarter were a dagger to the Mountaineers, though, as ASU embarked on a 16-4 run that drastically harmed Western's comeback attempt.
• The Rambelles scored the opening seven points of the quarter, a string finally broken by Hayley Valencia's bucket after she ripped down an offensive rebound.
• Seymour knocked down a pair of free throws that ended a 6-0 ASU spurt but a 3-pointer from Madisen Honea on ASU's next trip down the court elevated its lead to 17, the largest difference in the game.
• A 13-point deficit to start the fourth was trimmed by a Seymour trey, and eventually Western would pull to within six, 53-47, when Kylie Krise would pull down a defensive rebound then soon after drain a 3-pointer from the left wing.
• The Rambelles would answer with their second long run of the half, breaking free for good with 11 unanswered points for another 17-point cushion (64-47) before finishing the contest ahead by 15.
• Coming off a heartbreaking two-point loss the night before, Western carried momentum and hunger from that narrow defeat into Saturday's outing, challenging the Rambelles over the opening 10-minute quarter and finishing it trailing only 14-12.
• Western would trail by as many as nine before scoring the final four points of the quarter as Valencia dropped in a pair of free throws and Aikins hit that final fast break layup.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Seymour's 13 points led the Mountaineers and included a 6-for-8 night from the free throw line. Joining her in double digits were Valencia with 10 and Rachel Cockman who notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Aikins was just shy of the group, finishing with 9 points.
• Western was unable to find an answer for ASU's Sawyer Lloyd who led all scorers with 24 points – including four 3-pointers – and registered a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds. Her six assists were also a game-best total.
• Two other Rambelle starters also scored in double figures, but the contribution from their bench was almost nil as it added just two points to ASU's final total. In contrast, Western's subs scored 16 points in the night's effort, led by Valencia.
• The teams finished even in total rebounds, 40 apiece, but ASU had better luck with its offensive boards, accumulating 18 second-chance points to just 7 by the Mountaineers.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Western takes on host Colorado State University Tuesday in an exhibition game for the Mountaineers, then heads to Texas for a Saturday non-conference outing at Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
• The Mountaineers then play Texas A&M – Corpus Christi on Sunday in another exhibition contest.