Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Dominique Benton had 14 kills to lead New Mexico Highlands (11-15 overall, 5-10 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 win at Fort Lewis (5-18, 2-13) tonight at Whalen Gymnasium.

“We had plenty of positives, but just had trouble finding a way to finish,” said eighth-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland. “They were doing a good job of finding their hitters, which they weren't able to do last time.”

Aaland was referencing FLC's four-set win at New Mexico Highlands earlier this season — the Skyhawks' lone road win in RMAC action in 2011.

Tonight, Cowgirl setter Brooke Fahnestock distributed 40 assists while allowing her teammates to register a .299 attack percentage and 48 kills. Darian Mullen added 12 kills, while Ashley Nugent had 10.

Fort Lewis was led by freshman outside hitter Ashley Wells, who had 13 kills and 10 digs. Senior outside hitter Jessica Wilson added nine kills and eight digs, while sophomore middle blocker Taylor Frederking registered nine kills. Heather Bryant had three of FLC's five service aces.

As a team, FLC had 41 kills and a respectable .203 hitting efficiency, but lost the battle defensively with just two blocks (Highlands had four) and 44 kills (NMHU had 52).

Fort Lewis' slim RMAC playoff chances were dealt a major blow tonight, as FLC now trails Highlands by three games in the race for the RMAC West's No. 4 seed in the league playoffs, which begin next month. Each team has just three regular season matches remaining.

FLC hosts Western New Mexico (13-11, 9-6) at 7 p.m. tomorrow night in its annual Pink Digs for a Cure game to benefit emergency fund scholarships for local, in-treatment breast cancer patients through the Women's Health Coalition of Southwest Colorado.