With the impressive 19 point victory, the Skyhawks improve to 16-1 overall, and a perfect 9-0 mark for conference play, more than enough for the RMAC lead.
Fueled by 22 points and 12 rebounds by center Alison Rosel, the Skyhawks were able to control the paint with a 44-22 point margin. Along with Rosel, forward Laura Haugen finished the game with 14 points, and guard Katie Mackey put up 15 for the game.
"I thought we played pretty well tonight, solid effort from our girls," said Skyhawk head coach Mark Kellogg after the victory.
Much of the control that came from down low came from a tenacious effort in gaining offensive rebounds for the Skyhawks, finishing the game with 15 offensive boards, compared to 8 for the Mustangs, which led to a 23-9 advantage in second chance points for Fort Lewis.
Throughout much of the first half, the Mustangs were able to hold close, but in the waning minutes of the opening half, Fort Lewis was able to pull ahead with a 34-25 lead at the break, despite only shooting 35 percent from the floor.
The game ended with 20 of 46 shooting for Fort Lewis, 5 of 15 from three point range. Despite the final 19 point deficit, the Mustangs shot for nearly 50 percent, 30 of 62.
Fort Lewis committed 17 turnovers through the contest, compared to 24 by Western New Mexico, a handful coming late in the game to ice the Skyhawk victory.
Fort Lewis is now sitting on a staggering 13 game win streak, and is ranked sixth in the nation according to the coaches' poll.
The Skyhawks will travel out to Las Vegas, New Mexico, to take on New Mexico Highlands University on Friday, January 30th at 6pm followed by facing CSU Pueblo on Saturday in Pueblo.
