GUNNISON, Colo. Western Colorado got off to a slow start against MSU Denver and was never able to make that back up, leading to the Mountaineers falling 51-63.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: MSU Denver def., Western Colorado 63-51
Records: Western Colorado 4-12, 3-8 RMAC, MSU Denver 8-10, 6-6 RMAC.
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• MSU Denver got things going early, starting the game on a 7-1 run. A Rachel Cockman layup stopped the run, and then was followed by Brooklyn Seymour layup. Down 7-5, the Roadrunners responded with a basket. But, right away Cockman made another layup keeping the game close.
• Once again, MSU Denver's offense got going – this time going on a 9-0 run to giving them a 18-7 lead. The run would be stopped momentarily on a Kylie Krise three-pointer. However, before the quarter ended the Roadrunners made another basket.
• Similar to the first quarter, MSU Denver went on a 7-0 run, resulting in the Mountaineers calling a timeout. Coming out of the timeout down 10-27, Cockman converted an and-one basket, then both teams exchanged baskets – Emmery Wagstaff making a layup to cut the lead to 15-29. The Roadrunners lead grew as large as 19-points. Yet, Western has shown all year they will always fight back no matter what score.
• In Mountaineer fashion, Western went on a 12-2 run to close out the first half – being led by Krise who pitched in with five-points. Alyza Aikins hit the 12th-point of the run, knocking down a floater as time expired.
• In the third quarter, neither team was able to take control of the game, leading to both teams scoring 10-points in the quarter and the Mountaineers trailing by nine-points heading into the fourth quarter. Four Western players scored in the quarter, Wagstaff contributing the most with four-points and Mia Lozoya being the next highest with three-points.
• In the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers continued to fight despite and would cut the lead to six-points (47-53) with 2:24 left in the game on a Wagstaff three-pointer. Yet, that was the closest Western got in the quarter from tying the game as they forced to foul for the remainder of the game and hope MSU Denver missed their free throws.

COURT NOTES

• Wagstaff led the team with 13-points. While Cockman and Krise each pitched in with 11-points. Cockman was active on the defensive end, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots.
• As a whole, the Mountaineers shot, 37.8 percent (17-of-45) from the field, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from three and 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from the free throw line.
• MSU Denver had four players – Tosjanae Bonds (13-points), Kendra Parra (12-points), Mikylah Espinosa (11-points) and Jaden Galloway (11-points) – score in double figures. Parra was the Roadrunners leading rebounder with nine and recorder three steals. Espinosa also recorded three steals and Galloway had two steals.
• As a whole the Roadrunners shot, 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the field, 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from three and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the free throw line. 

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers return to Paul Wright Gym tomorrow (Jan. 21) taking on No. 24 Colorado School of Mines at 5 p.m.