GUNNISON, Colo.  Playing with the lead through three quarters of action, Western Colorado needed an 11-0 fourth quarter run to retake a lead and secure a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's basketball win, 62-53, over visiting Regis University Saturday afternoon in Paul Wright Gym.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. Regis, 62-53
Records: Western 5-3 overall (3-1 RMAC), Regis 0-7 (0-3)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountaineers doubled a three-point lead after the first quarter to take a six-point advantage, 29-23, into the halftime break.
• The lead grew to nine, 40-31, nearing the end of the third frame, but the Rangers outscored Western 10-2 over the final two minutes of the quarter to pull within a point (42-41) before scoring the opening basket of the fourth quarter for their first lead of the game.
• There were four lead changes that eventually saw Regis in front, 50-48, midway through the final quarter.
• A Penelope Urquhart 3-pointer from in front of her bench in the left corner ignited a closing burst that saved the Mountaineers.
• Jayda Maves came up with a steal on Regis' ensuing possession and soon after, Ivey Schmidt would drop in a 3-pointer to fuel the momentum.
• Another steal, this one by Schmidt, turned into a drive by Maves who lofted in a jumper from the paint to continue the run.
• With two minutes left, Schmidt was fouled while shooting and made it 10 unanswered points by adding a pair of free throws.
• Rori Hoffmeyer would later hit one of two free throws and in the final minute Maves hit the second of her two free throws and Schmidt added two more from the stripe to finally subdue the Rangers.

COURT NOTES

• Prior to the game Schmidt was lauded in a brief ceremony for surpassing the 1,000 point plateau for her career.
• She added to the total, now at 1,025, with a game-high 20 points in the Saturday, just missing the double-double by pulling down a game-best 9 rebounds – all in the defensive end.
• Maves also reached double digits with 11 points, and the Mountaineers got at least 2 points from eight other players, including 25 from players coming off the bench.
• Western, which ripped down 60 rebounds in an overtime win Thursday night, again earned the edge off the glass, 47-27, paced by Schmidt and 8 rebounds from Chloe Daniels.
• The Mountaineers limited the Rangers to a 27 percent afternoon from the floor, while ending their win shooting 41% including 16 of 18 from the free throw line.

THEY SAID IT


UP NEXT
Western will travel to Lawton, Oklahoma, for non-conference games on Dec. 19 and 20 against Washburn (Kan.) University and Pittsburg State (Kan.) University, respectively.