Box Score

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Prior to last night, no member of the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team had experienced a two-game losing streak in their collegiate careers. FLC had last lost back-to-back games at the end of the 2007-08 season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout and NCAA Division II playoffs.

Consider the losing streak kicked to the curb.

“We needed that in the worst way. We played at a different level,” said seventh-year FLC head coach Mark Kellogg. “We buckled down and really got it done defensively. I'm glad that we responded the way we did. It kind of felt like we got our team back. “

After a sluggish start, No. 10 Fort Lewis (20-4 overall, 17-3 in the RMAC) blew out Colorado Christian (13-13, 11-9) 79-59 at the Cougar Event Center.

For the first six minutes, though, it looked as if the Cougars might play David to a Top 10 Goliath for the third time this year. CCU previously handed No. 7 Metro State its only two losses of the season.

But Jenna Santistevan's layup with 13:51 remaining in the first frame cut a nine-point lead to 16-9 and ignited an 11-0 FLC run that put the Skyhawks ahead 18-16 four-and-a-half minutes later.

Back-and-forth basketball ensued over the next few minutes before the Skyhawks went on their second 11-0 run of the half to take a commanding 38-27 lead. FLC held onto its 11-point advantage to take a 42-31 lead into the locker room at intermission.

Fort Lewis picked apart the CCU defense – a zone early, and man-to-man later – by dominating the paint. Santistevan finished with a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Dana Schreibvogel led all scorers with 19 points, adding nine caroms and three assists. Reserve post Jamie Simmons had 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

“They all took over in their own ways,” said Kellogg. “Jenna was so active and so good. Dana rebounded better than she had all year. We were just under control.”

Ashley Kuchar added 11 points and a pair of assists. “That's probably the best she's played all year,” said Kellogg.

Kuchar and fellow FLC guards Alex Easterbrook and Katerina Garcia hounded Colorado Christian's playmakers throughout the game, forcing 22 turnovers.

CCU's Christina Whitelaw, who leads the nation with three triple-doubles, notched a dubious double-double with 18 points and 10 turnovers. She added seven assists, six steals, and six rebounds and led the Cougars in each statistical category.

Stephanie Allen added 12 points and six rebounds. B.J. Moyes had 10 points and was 2-for-2 from behind the arc. Both of her treys came during CCU's early run.

Fort Lewis led the rebounding battle 47-33 and grabbed 22 offensive caroms. Mary Rose Paiz joined Santistevan in double-digit rebounds with 10.

The Skyhawks shot .484 from the field (31 of 64). The Cougars were just .385 (25 of 65).

Fort Lewis remained in second place in the RMAC standings, a game-and-a-half behind Metro State (23-2, 19-2). With their 63-60 win at New Mexico Highlands tonight, the Roadrunners clinched at least a share of the RMAC crown and can win the outright with a win next Saturday against Regis.

The Skyhawks clinched their fifth straight 20-win season and eighth in school history.

Fort Lewis wraps up RMAC regular season play next weekend when it hosts Western State (13-13, 12-8) at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Colorado Mesa (12-12, 10-10) at 5:30 p.m. next Saturday. The FLC football team will hold a clothing drive for the La Plata Family Centers Coalition each night. Fans are encouraged to donate clothing – children's clothing in sizes 5-15 in particular.

Saturday's game marks senior night and the final regular season home game for Stephanie Beeman, Paiz, Santistevan, Schreibvogel, and Simmons.