Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Cold shooting was the culprit for the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team Friday night at New Mexico Highlands University as they lost to the Cowgirls, 74-63, from the John A. Wilson Complex in Las Vegas, N.M.
 
The loss was the Skyhawks second straight setback of the season and moves them to 4-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and 7-5 overall.  NMHU improves to 6-6 overall and 3-6 in league games.
 
The Skyhawks made a season low 19 field goals and shot the second lowest percentage of the season, netting 19-of-57 for 33.3 percent. Erika Richards made both three-point field goals from behind the arc as FLC netted 2-of-8 for 25 percent.  The Skyhawks were fouled 27 times and were able to connect on nearly 80 percent from the charity stripe, making 23-of-29 free throws.
 
Fort Lewis started the game strong, taking an 11-point lead in the first seven minutes of the game, 16-5.  For the first 16 minutes, FLC never trailed, but the Cowgirls surged back to take a 35-34 halftime lead.
 
"We were playing pretty well in the first half," said Fort Lewis College head women's basketball coach Jason Flores.  "We were moving the ball well and our posts and guards were scoring.  But then we started forcing early shots and turning the ball and lost the lead.  We missed a lot of easy shots in the second half and we completely lost momentum."
 
The Skyhawks shot 41.4 percent in the first half (12-of-29), but were only able to convert 25 percent in the second half (7-of-28).
 
New Mexico Highlands out-rebounded FLC, 40-36, and made 44.4 percent from the floor (24-of-54).  The Cowgirls made almost as many three-point field goals (7-of-21) as the Skyhawks attempted (eight).
 
Christie Groh led all scorers with 21points after making 5-of-10 field goals and 11-of-13 free throws.  Erika Richards chipped in 16 points, while Mary Brinton came off the bench to add 10 points.
 
Alyssa Lopez paced NMHU with 17 points, followed by Jenny Johnson with 16 and China Smith's double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Skyhawks will travel to Silver City, N.M. Saturday night to face the Mustangs at 5:30 p.m.