GUNNISON, Colo. Western Colorado trailed 28-25 at halftime. But got things going in the second half outscoring the Cowgirls 35-24, resulting in Western winning 60-52 win.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado def. New Mexico Highlands 60-52.
Records: Western Colorado 10-10, New Mexico Highlands 5-16.
Location: Paul Wright Gymnasium; Gunnison, Colo.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountaineers took an early 6-2 lead thanks to Emmery Wagstaff who knocked down two three pointers. That was followed up by a jumper by Anda Kuzmina and Wagstaff and a lay-up by Rachel Cockman - ballooning the lead to 12-2. The Cowboys made their final basket of the quarter with 1:04 left to play draining a three.
• Things changed drastically for New Mexico Highlands in the second quarter – scoring 23-points – while Western's offense cooled down leading to the Cowgirls taking the lead. At halftime the Mountaineers trailed 28-25.
• The Cowgirls increased their lead to five-points with 6:30 left to play in the third quarter. However, that lead got erased quickly, as Natalie Jojola and Wagstaff knocked down back-to-back threes, giving Western a 37-36 lead. The Mountaineers lead grew to five-points three minutes later. But, New Mexico Highlands battled an trimmed the lead to one-point heading into the fourth quarter.
• Wagstaff caught fire to start the fourth knocking down two threes and a jumper – Cowgirls made a jumper to start the quarter - extending Westerns lead to six-points.
• The Mountaineers lead grew as large as 12-points after a Kuzmina basket with 3:46 left to play. Western held onto the lead from there earning their 10th win of the season.

COURT NOTES

• Wagstaff had a season high 21-points in the game, while Cockman also had a season and career high 13-points. Katie Dalton was also a factor in the game pitching in with 12-points.
• The Mountaineers shot 41.2 percent (21-51) from the field, 35 percent (7-20) from three and 78.6 percent (11-14) from the free throw line.
• The Cowgirls were led by Jordyn Lewis who had 11-points and Zenevieve Cornoado-Casebolt who had nine-points.
• New Mexico Highlands shot 37 percent (17-46) from the field, 53.8 percent (7-13) from three and 73.3 percent (11-15) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Western will hit the road for their next game, traveling to Denver, Colo., to take on Regis University on Friday Feb. 11 at 5 p.m.