Box score

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (3-1 overall, 1-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) shot 57 percent from three-point range to defeat Fort Lewis (1-4, 0-1) 70-65 tonight at the Gallogly Events Center.
 
“On the road, you've got to overcome some adversity,” said first-year FLC head coach Jason Flores. “They shot 57 percent from the three-point line and we just didn't overcome that. Between their three-point shooting and our turnovers, that was just something we couldn't overcome. They got hot on their home court and we turned the ball over too much. We were really close and had some chances to take the lead and missed some shots.”
 
Abby Kirchoff went 5-of-5 from behind the arc to finish with a game-high 25 points. It was the second year in a row that Kirchoff went off on the Skyhawks on her home court: Last February, she scored 28 as the Mountain Lions knocked off then-No. 6 Fort Lewis 84-78.
 
Jeri Pikul added 19 points and went 4-of-6 for the Mountain Lions tonight.
 
“The problem was in the first half we allowed their two shooters to have too many good looks and that led to part of the problem,” said Flores.
 
Kirchoff and Pikul knocked down 7-of-8 treys in the first frame as UCCS built a 41-33 halftime advantage.
 
“In the second half, we did a much better job and held them to the point total that we wanted to hold them to,” said Flores. Fort Lewis outscored UCCS 32-29 in the second frame and trimmed the lead to a single point on three occasions.
 
In a game where just 31 fouls were called, free throw shooting proved to be a big difference.
 
“They were good at the free throw line. They were 12-of-13,” said Flores. “We shot 50 percent (6-of-12) and that's just crazy for us. We spend time in practice shooting free throws and we just need to translate it.”
 
Ashley Kuchar led the Skyhawks with 20 points, while Erika Richards added 12. Katerina Garcia dished off seven assists and had five steals.
 
Fort Lewis outrebounded UCCS 33-31, with Garcia, Kuchar and Christie Groh grabbing five rebounds apiece. Kirchoff led the Mountain Lions with seven caroms.
 
“I'm glad that we turned the rebound margin over,” said Flores. “That's something we've been harping on and we outrebounded them by two.”
 
Now Fort Lewis — road warriors the entire season to date — must find a way to beat one of the RMAC's best teams on their home court to salvage a split on the league-opening two-game road trek.
 
Colorado State-Pueblo (4-1, 1-0) defeated Adams State 67-55 tonight at Massari Arena. The ThunderWolves host the Skyhawks at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
“On the road in this environment, we just need to get it done,” said Flores. “That's what we'll try to do tomorrow.”