COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Brittany Hernandez scored 29 points and recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 10 rebounds to lead the University of Colorado Colorado Springs won its fourth straight game in an 80-65 victory against Western New Mexico. The Mountain Lions (14-6, 10-4 RMAC) have won eight of their nine games in January 2016.

The Mountain Lions scored nine straight points early in the game to take an 11-3 lead against the Mustangs. Western New Mexico cut the advantage back down to a possession at 15-12 but UCCS made it a double-digit lead by the end of the quarter with a 28-17 lead. 

Hernandez scored 15 of the 22 points for UCCS in the second quarter with a five-of-six performance from the field, and rebounded the one shot she missed for the jumper. She assembled her own 8-1 run near the end of the quarter and finished the first half with 25 to put the Mountain Lions ahead 50-36.

UCCS led by at least 11 points for the entire third quarter and by at least 15 points for the entire fourth quarter. Jen Vigil scored 12 of her 15 points in the second half and the Mountain Lion defense held the Mustangs to 29 percent field goal shooting in the half for the 80-65 win.

Hernandez finished with her 12th 20-point game of the season and her ninth perfect free throw shooting night with five-of-five at the line. Vigil made all of her 15 points at the three-point line and Jennah Knafelc led the bench with 10 points and a season-high seven rebounds.

The Mountain Lions moved up one position in the RMAC standings and into a tie for fourth after Colorado Christian lost 67-65 against Black Hills State. UCCS is tied with Christian and Regis with eight games left in the regular season, and is two games behind conference leader Colorado Mines. 

UCCS will finish Blackout Weekend with a 5:30 p.m., game against New Mexico Highlands on Saturday. The Cowgirls (3-15, 1-13 RMAC) lost 65-59 to MSU Denver earlier tonight.