GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado pulled even with a pair of free throws from Ivey Schmidt that sent Thursday night's game into overtime, but visiting University of Colorado Colorado Springs outscored the Mountaineers in the extra period to steal an 85-77 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: UCCS def. Western, 85-77 OT
Records: Western 9-8 overall (7-4 RMAC), UCCS 12-7 (8-3)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western had lost the lead in the third quarter when UCCS went on a 12-0 run, then chased after the Mountain Lions through the rest of the quarter and throughout the fourth.
• Trailing by five points midway through the fourth, Western battled back into a tie with a 6-1 spurt keyed by consecutive jumpers from Schmidt and tying free throws by Jayda Maves that squared things at 65-65 with 1:45 to play in regulation.
• UCCS earned a trip to the free throw line and hit only the second of two tries to inch ahead by one with 76 seconds left, then after a Mountaineer turnover it went to the line again and once more only hit the second of two tries to leave the door open for Western.
• With time winding down under 20 seconds and trailing by two, Schmidt made a drive down the lane and was fouled on her layup attempt, sending her to the line with the game in the balance.
• Schmidt nailed both free throws to set the game even at 67-67, with both teams getting failed attempts at game-winners before the horn.
• The Mountain Lions broke from the gate quickly in the extra period, scoring the first six points and eventually pushing out to a nine-point lead that the Mountaineers weren't able to cut into.
• The game started well for Western as it led most of the opening quarter and every second of the second frame, taking a 42-39 advantage into the halftime locker room.
• It built the gap to seven, 46-39, in the early moments of the third quarter but UCCS generated that 12-0 run to wrest away the lead and maintain it until Schmidt's fourth quarter free throws.

COURT NOTES

• Much of the game by UCCS was played in the paint with either driving layups or putbacks by its post players, while Western was doing its damage from out in space, particularly from behind the arc in the first half.
• Not surprisingly, UCCS finished the game shooting 55 percent from the floor, while going 0-for-6 from long range. Western had six 3-pointers by halftime but only two after the break, finishing the game shooting 44% and hitting 8-of-17 from behind the arc.
• The Mountain Lions would total 58 of their 85 points from in the paint, while the Mountaineers would only score 14 from in close.
• Schmidt would lead three Mountaineers into double figures with a 25-point night, while Alyssa Eckroth went for 20 – including a perfect 10-for-10 from the stripe – and Maves added 18 points from four 3-pointers and a 6-for-6 effort from the line.
• UCCS got a game-high 30 points from Amayah Moore Allen, with post Ayianna Johnson just missing the double-double with a 20 point-9 rebound night.

UP NEXT
Western remains at home for the second half of the weekend schedule, hosting Colorado Christian University on Saturday at 1 p.m.