DURANGO, CO - February 23, 2008 - The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team lost their first game since November 24th Saturday night in their final regular season game of the year. The Western State Mountaineers defeated the Skyhawks 71-53 in front of a large crowd in Whalen Gymnasium. The Skyhawks fall to 25-2 overall and 18-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), while the Mountaineers improve to 13-14 overall and 7-12 in the RMAC.

With 8:31 left in the second half the visiting Mountaineers scored a free throw off an Audrey George (Longmont, CO/Niwot) for a one-point lead. From that point on the Mountaineers scored 14 unanswered points and opened a 15-point lead with 4:03 left on the clock. Nearly a minute later a Laura Haugen (Fort Collins, CO/Poudre) three-pointer sparked the Skyhawks, but the Mountaineers went on a 5-0 run, with all five points off of free throws, in the next minute and a half. In the final 1:38 the Mountaineers opened the lead to 18, their largest of the game.

The stats sheet gives a clear picture in the difference in Saturday night's game. The Skyhawks had 22 personal fouls, 18 of which came in the second half, compared to the Mountaineers 12 fouls all night. The Skyhawks also shot just 38.9% from the field, 29.2% from downtown and 57.1% from the foul line. The Skyhawks shot just seven free throws all game long, while the Mountaineers found themselves at the line 30 times. The Skyhawks also had 21 turnovers Saturday night.

Allison Rosel (Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty) led the Skyhawks with 16 points on 7-of-9 from the field. The only Skyhawk with double figures scoring, Rosel, also grabbed eight rebounds and handed out one assist. Lauren McCulloch (Allen, TX/Allen) and Haugen each added eight points.

The Mountaineers had five players in double figures, led by Sarai Martinez who scored a game-high 17 points.

The 2007-08 RMAC Champion Skyhawks return to action on Friday, February 29th at 6:00 p.m. when they host Colorado Christian in the RMAC Shootout Quarterfinals. The winner will advance to the RMAC semifinals in Pueblo on March 7th. For a full RMAC Shootout bracket, click here. Friday's game will be broadcast by KIUP 930 AM and be available on live stats via GoSkyhawks.com. Stay posted throughout the week for more RMAC Shootout coverage.

Box Score