Box Score
DURANGO, Colo. — Playing a hot hand from three-point range, No. 4 Fort Lewis (22-1 overall, 17-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) beat UC-Colorado Springs (7-15, 6-12) 85-48 in its Pink Zone 2011 game tonight in Whalen Gymnasium.
Wearing pink uniforms for the third year in a row for its WBCA's Pink Zone game benefitting local breast cancer causes, the Skyhawks nearly tied the school record for three-pointers, making 17 from behind the arc. (FLC's record of 18 treys was set at Adams State on Feb. 2, 2008.)
“They [UCCS] were just collapsing on the inside trying to take that away, which really opened up the outside,” sixth-year Skyhawk head coach Mark Kellogg said of the long-distance assault — a contrast to last night's 87-73 win over Colorado State-Pueblo that saw FLC rely on its inside game. “There were actually a lot of people involved from the three-point line.”
Seven Skyhawks connected on treys, including three each by Abby Jackson, Mary Rose Paiz and Erika Richards. Nine of 11 players launched three-pointers.
The Skyhawks equaled the school record for three-point attempts in one game (32, previously set at Mesa State on Feb. 23, 2003) and had their fourth best three-point percentage ever (.556).
Aside from too many turnovers in the opening minutes — FLC committed turnovers on its first four possessions before registering its first shot of the game two minutes into the opening half — there was little Kellogg could find wrong.
“I thought it was a really complete game,” he said. “At halftime we just had a few things we had to change. We came out in the second and really blew open that lead.”
Fort Lewis led 38-19 at intermission and outscored the Mountain Lions 47-29 in the second frame.
Two Skyhawk trademarks stood out in the victory: defense and passing.
“I loved our defensive effort,” said Kellogg. “We really limited them other than them getting to the free throw line. They only made 13 field goals.”
UC-Colorado Springs shot just .277 from the field (13 of 47) and .182 from behind the arc (two of 11), making its only two treys late in the game. Fort Lewis forced 23 turnovers while notching 11 steals and five blocks.
“Lots of assists, which really shows our unselfish play,” Kellogg added.
Benefitting from torrid long-range shooting, Skyhawk passers recorded 25 assists. Jackson, who became FLC's career assist leader last night, led the way with six helpers while every one of her teammates logged at least one assist.
Rebounding, too, weighed in FLC's favor. “We outrebounded them pretty good on the offensive boards,” Kellogg said. The Skyhawks won the rebounding battle 42-35 and pulled down 14 offensive caroms.
Dana Schreibvogel led the way with 17 points and seven rebounds. Paiz (14 points, nine rebounds, four assists), Jackson (11 points) and Richards (11 points, six rebounds) also scored in double figures.
The Mountain Lions were led by Danielle Brown, who had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench. Jessica Brown added eight points and six caroms.
Fort Lewis has its final two home regular season games of the season next weekend when it hosts Colorado Mines (7-16, 3-15) at 5:30 p.m. next Friday and Colorado Christian (16-6, 14-4) at 5:30 p.m. the following night. The Skyhawks look to avenge their only loss, an 80-79 heartbreaker at Christian last month in a game that saw FLC lead from tape to tape. The Cougars tied the game with a basket at the buzzer and won it with a free throw with no time remaining.
The Skyhawks remain in a dogfight for the RMAC regular season title with No. 13 Metro State (22-1, 18-1), which owns a half-game lead in the league standings. The Roadrunners won a 62-60 thriller at Nebraska-Kearney tonight.
“It's still going to be a battle 'til the very end here,” said Kellogg.
