Box Score GUNNISON, Colo. – Despite not making a field goal in the last six minutes and 29 seconds of regulation, the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team made 17-of-18 free throws in the final 6:29 to earn a 78-66 win at Western State Colorado University Saturday night.  The win improves the Skyhawks to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Mountaineers, who started the conference season 4-0, lost their second straight conference and move to 4-7 overall and 4-2 in league games.
 
Ashley Kuchar played a critical role in the Skyhawks comeback, as they trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half.  Kuchar, who made all 12 free throw attempts from the free throw line, was 10-for-10 in the final six minutes of regulation.  She finished the game leading all scorers with 22 points.
 
Skylyn Webb's old-fashioned three-point play at 12:15 in the first half gave the Skyhawks their largest lead of the game, 17-6.   WSCU responded to go on a 17-6 run to tie the game 23-23, and then ended the half on a 17-8 run for a halftime lead over FLC, 40-31.
 
"We got off to a good start which was good to see because we had some bounce back and fight in us from last night's loss," said Fort Lewis College head women's basketball coach Jason Flores.  "We stopped guarding them as well as we could have in the first half, and then they (WSCU) made shots and played well.  They kind of got on a roll and shot well and got us down at home.  We came back out in the second half and played consistent.  We were able to consistently pull away from them in the second half.   We were getting some really good looks at the basket and had to force them to foul us."
 
After shooting 37.9 percent in the first half from the floor and the Mountaineers shooting 50 percent, the Skyhawks turned it around to net 50 percent in the second half and hold WSCU to 32 percent.  The Skyhawks finished the game making 21-of-49 field goals  (42.9 percent), 6-of-19 three-point field goals (31.6 percent), and 30-of-39 free throws (76.9 percent).
 
Erika Richards chimed in with16 points, four assists and six rebounds.  Three of her five field goals came from long range.  Christie Groh added 13 points after making 4-of-9 field goals and 5-of-8 from the free throw line. She added five rebounds and two assists.
 
The Skyhawks recorded 20 points in the paint, 15 points off of Mountaineer turnovers, eight second chance points and six fast break points, out-scoring WSCU in each category.
 
Desiree Smith led the Mountaineers with 17 points and seven assists. 
 
Fort Lewis will return to the hard court after the Holiday break. They will play host to Chadron State College and Black Hills State University Jan. 3-4 at Whalen Gymnasium. Both games will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.