SALT LAKE CITY  Saturday's 62-60 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win by Western Colorado extended its win streak over host Westminster University to five, the Mountaineers building a second-half 18 point advantage before having to break a tie on a last second jumper by Ivey Schmidt for the win.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. Westminster, 62-60
Records: Western 7-7 overall (5-3 RMAC), Westminster (3-11 (0-8)
Location: Behnken Field House, Salt Lake City, Utah

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Griffins rallied with a 23-5 run in the fourth quarter to inch in front, 60-59, with Schmidt hitting the front end of a pair of free throws to tie the game with 40 seconds remaining.
• A Schmidt steal with 11 seconds left put the ball back in Western's hands, and on an in-bounds play Schmidt received the pass, dribbled to her left, used a pump fake for a free look and drained a 15 footer as time expired.
• Trailing 6-5 in the opening quarter, Alyssa Eckroth earned a trip to the free throw line where she sank both attempts for a lead that would grow throughout the quarter.
• By the end of the frame the Mountaineers had moved in front by nine, 21-12, with Jayda Maves dropping in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the right wing.
• Things turned worse for the Griffins through the middle part of the second quarter as Western ran off a 10-2 run that included an 8-0 spurt, lifting the Mountaineers to a 33-17 lead on a Maves layup down the right alley.
• Though Westminster scored the final five points of the period, Western maintained a double-digit advantage, 33-22, heading into the halftime break.
• The Mountaineers led 47-33 at the end of the third and 54-37 in the fourth before Westminster's stunning fourth quarter comeback, only to have it spoiled by Schmidt's heroics.

COURT NOTES

• Schmidt would end up leading all scorers with 21 points, with the Mountaineers getting 17 from Maves and 11 from Eckroth.
• Chloe Daniels' season-high nine rebounds helped Western forge a 38-36 win off the glass, but the Griffins came down with 14 offensive rebounds and earned a game best 12 second chance points that helped keep them in the game.
• Turnovers played a role in Westminster's comeback as they forced 20 from Western and banked 20 points from those opportunities.
• After shooting 29 percent, 29% and 19% in the first, second and third quarters, Westminster's rally was fueled in the fourth quarter with a 12-of-19 frame (63%). However, though limited to just eight shots, Western hit five of those for a 62% quarter that allowed it to finally hold off the Griffins in time for Schmidt's game-winner.

UP NEXT
Western is back at home next week with RMAC games Thursday against South Dakota Mines and Saturday against Black Hills State at Paul Wright Gym.