GUNNISON, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs senior guard Jen Vigil scored 17 points with five assists while senior forward Brittany Hernandez recorded her fourth double-double of the season in a 61-55 win for the Mountain Lions against Western State. Tonight's win marked the seventh victory in the last eight games for UCCS (13-5, 10-2 RMAC).

The win came under Acting Head Coach Liz Doran, who stepped in after Head Coach Lynn Plett was required to stay in Colorado Springs for medical reasons. Eric Simpkin, a graduate assistant on the UCCS men's basketball team, also stepped in to assist for tonight.

The Mountain Lions made their first three field goals to open an early six-point lead against the Mountaineers in the first two minutes. Western State used an 8-0 run to take a 14-10 lead with five minutes left in the first quarter, and scored almost half of its points in the paint to take a 21-18 lead after the first period. The Mountaineer defense held UCCS to four-of-14 shooting in the second quarter to expand the advantage to 37-30 at halftime.

UCCS closed the Mountaineer gap down to a point in the first three minutes of the third quarter, and a three-pointer from Hernandez tied the game at 41-41 with 6:25 to play in the period. Mia Carter provided the Mountain Lions their first lead since the first quarter on a jumper two minutes later. The teams exchanged the lead two more times in the final four minutes of the quarter as UCCS finished with a 48-45 lead against Western State at the end of the quarter.

The Mountain Lions made 50 percent of their shots in third period and shot 55 percent overall in the second half. The UCCS defense held Western State to a two-of-14 performance in the third quarter for 14 percent, and to 19 percent (six-of-31) in the half. The Mountain Lions led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter at 57-50 with 2:10 to play, and Kelly O'Flannigan went four-of-four at the free throw line in the final 15 seconds to secure the win for UCCS.

Vigil's 17 points were her most since the conference-opener against Black Hills State on Dec. 2, and her five assists tonight were her most since eight against Wayland Baptist on Nov. 25. She remained perfect at the free throw line in month of January with two more free throws tonight.

Hernandez earned her first double-double since Dec. 17, with 11 points and 11 rebounds. She extended her streak of double-digit scoring games to nine straight. Hernandez improved her career totals to 1,361 points and 624 rebounds, both third in UCCS history.

The Mountain Lions will travel to Grand Junction, Colo., for a Saturday game at 5:30 p.m., at Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks (12-4, 9-3 RMAC) defeated MSU Denver 77-65 tonight.