CHADRON, Neb.  Western Colorado dominated host Chadron State from the opening tip, scoring the first 12 points of the game then rolling to a 77-24 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win Thursday night at the Chicoine Center.

The Mountaineers pushed four players into double figures in scoring, and nine different players scored during the win.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western def. Chadron State, 77-24
Records: Western 16-10 overall (13-6 RMAC), Chadron State 1-23 (1-18)
Location: Chicoine Center, Chadron, Neb.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western roared to a lead in the opening quarter, scoring the game's first 12 points before the Eagles could drop one through the netting.
• The Mountaineers answered a four-point spurt from CSC by scoring the next 13 points and would finish the first leading 28-5.
• Nothing changed the tone of the game in the second quarter as Western included a 14-0 run on the way to a 45-9 halftime advantage, then limited CSC to 9 points in the third quarter and just 6 in the fourth on the way to its 53-point win.

COURT NOTES

• While Ivey Schmidt led the team in the offensive end with 18 points, Alyssa Eckroth nearly eclipsed her with 17 points. Jayda Maves finished with 14 points and Rori Hoffmeyer scored a season-best 10 points.
• The Mountaineers dominated the glass, as all 10 players to see action came away with at least one rebound to help Western forge a 53-17 rebounding advantage.
• Hoffmeyer's game-high eight rebounds was her season best, and she got help on the inside from Addison Harding (7), Schmidt (6) and Chloe Daniels (5). Daniels would also add two blocks on the night.
• Western shot a blistering 62% from the floor in the first quarter, and by halftime had dropped in nine 3-pointers.
• For the game, Maves and Schmidt would both toss in four triples.
• The Mountaineers would force 19 CSC turnovers and scored a total of 27 points off those miscues by the Eagles.

RMAC TOURNAMENT IMPLICATIONS

• Western remains tied for fifth place after Thursday's women's basketball action, even with MSU Denver at 13-6 in league play, with both sure of spots in the RMAC postseason.
• However, the Mountaineers and the Roadrunners sit just one game back from a three-way tie for second place between Adams State, UC Colorado Springs, and Black Hills State, who are all at 14-5 in the standings.
• To host an opening round game Western needs to move up into the top four. If the Mountaineers can win their final regular season game on Saturday and either Adams State or Black Hills State loses, Western would be tied with that team for fourth place and owns the head-to-head tiebreaker on both – which would move Western up to no lower than fourth place and securing a home game in the opening round of the RMAC tournament.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers still have business to take care of, heading to Rapid City, S.D., for Saturday's 1 p.m. RMAC game at South Dakota Mines.