Box Score DURANGO, Colo. – Colorado State University-Pueblo edged the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team by five points Saturday night at Whalen Gymnasium, 78-73.  The loss was the first of the conference season as Fort Lewis moves to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  CSU-Pueblo improves to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in league games.
 
"It's hard, sometimes when you're out of sorts," said Fort Lewis College head women's basketball coach Jason Flores.  "We were out of sorts defensively.  We were doing a lot of standing.  We were reacting to a lot of what they were doing. The wheels were turning, but they were turning a second too late.  They deserved to win.  I give them all the credit.  When you watch a team play with a lot of passion and a huge will to win, I take my hats off to that.  They did a great job."
 
Both teams exchanged the lead 15 times throughout the game.  The ThunderWolves held a distinct advantage with points in the paint (38-28) and fast break points (15-6).  The Skyhawks bench outscored CSUP, 13-6 and scored 21 points off of CSUP's 13 turnovers.
 
Fort Lewis battled back from being 14 points down in the second half.  Kylie Santos hit a three-pointer with 1:42 left in regulation to cap off a 14-4 run by the Skyhawks and bring them within four points, 73-69, but it was the closest FLC would reach the Pack.
 
Four Skyhawks tallied at least 10 points or more with Erika Richards netting a team high 22 points.  Richards made 7-of-12 free throws, including 4-of-7 three-point field goals.  Ashely Kuchar chipped in 15 points and added five assists and three steals, while Kaile Magazzeni posted 12 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.  Mary Brinton chipped in 10 points on 4-of-9 field goals and five rebounds.
 
The Pack's Paige Ramm made 7-of-13 field goals for a game high 24 points.  Ten of her points came from the charity stripe.  Katie Nehf recorded five blocks, 17 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Pack attempted 26 free throws in the game, compared to the Skyhawks eight.  FLC netted all eight free throw attempts.
 
Fort Lewis will play at Adams State next Saturday at 6 p.m. for their lone game of the week.