RIFLE – Strong efforts in the first and fourth quarters allowed Rifle to take a 45-37 victory over Fruita Monument in a non-league girls game at the Bear Lair on Tuesday.

The 6-3 Bears jumped out to a 17-10 first quarter lead over the Class 5A Wildcats, then saw their lead slip to three points at halftime and into the third quarter.

Ahead 33-30 entering the game’s final eight minutes, Rifle outscored its Class 5A opponents 15-4 for its third straight win since returning back from the holiday break.

Nicole Erpestad scored a game-high 15 points and Ashley Gavito added 13.

Kristen Nefferdorf chipped in eight points.

The Bears are off until Saturday when they resume Class 4A Western Slope League play in Eagle-Vail against Battle Mountain.

The Huskies are winless on the year at 0-7 and 0-2 in the WSL after suffering losses to Steamboat Springs and Moffat County in the opening games of the league season last weekend.

Rifle 45, Fruita Monument 37

Fruita Monument 10 11 12 4 – 37

Rifle 17 7 6 15 – 45

Fruita Monument – Reed 2 0-0 4, Forster 3 4-4 13, Hammond 2 0-0 6, Baker 1 0-0 2, Duncomb 1 0-0 2, Reece 4 0-0 8, Triplett 1 0-0 2. Totals – 14 4-4 37.

Rifle – Kristen Neffendorf 4 0-0 8, Haley Hubbell 0 0-0 0, Nicole Erpestad 6 2-4 15, Julie McWilliams 1 0-0 3, Montanha Matthies 0 0-0 0, Renee Laudick 1 0-0 2, Ashley Gavito 5 3-5 13, Krista Wagstrom 2 0-0 4. Totals – 19 5-9 45.

3-Pointers – FM – Forster 3, Hammond 2. R – Erpestad, McWilliams. Fouled Out – R – Gavito. Technicals – None.