DURANGO, CO - December 15, 2007 - The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team defeated the visiting Nebraska-Kearney Lopers 77-68 tonight in their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) home opener. The Skyhawks improve to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the RMAC, while the Lopers fall to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

The Skyhawks took an early lead and never turned back in just their second win over the Lopers in the program's 26-year history. With 2:32 remaining in the first half, Allison Rosel (Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty) nailed two of her 13 points on the night to give the Skyhawks a 10-point lead. The Lopers closed the lead to seven at the break.

For the entire second half the teams exchanged baskets with neither team going on a big run. The Skyhawks led again by 10 with 15 seconds left before capping their seventh win of the season by nine points.

The women were the start of a night which made history in the Whalen Athletic Center. They combined with the men's team to sweep the Lopers, a task which has never happened in the 26 years that Fort Lewis has sponsored both men's and women's basketball. The women also are off to the second-best start in FLC women's basketball history. Only the 2003-04 women recorded a better start to their season at 8-0.

Rosel added 11 rebounds to her 13 points for her second double-double of the season. Laura Haugen (Fort Collins, CO/Poudre) led the team with 22 points. She went 2-for-3 from downtown and added four foul shots. Katie Bodaness (Englewood, CO/Cherry Creek) and Erin Kerr (Buckeye, AZ/Buckeye Union) both added 12 points and combined for nine assists and three steals.

The Skyhawks host Chadron State College at 6:00 p.m. on Monday night in another RMAC doubleheader. Chadron is coming off a loss to Mesa State Saturday night.

Box Score