Box Score LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team committed a season high 27 turnovers Friday night at Colorado Christian University, falling to the Cougars 66-65.  The loss evens the Skyhawks Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record to 6-6 on the season (9-7 overall).
 
"We turned the ball over too much; had we not, we would've won the game," said Fort Lewis College head women's basketball coach Jason Flores. "We did what we wanted to do tonight, but we didn't make the plays we needed to.  I can't fault our effort."
 
The Skyhawks trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half but ended the half on a 13-6 run to trail by two at the break, 36-34.  FLC led by one point, 65-64, with 1:05 left in regulation, but a layup by CCU's Gillian Foster with 47 ticks left on the clock sealed the win for the Cougars.
 
CCU held an advantage at the charity stripe, making three more free throws than the Skyhawks attempted.  The Cougars sank 17-of-27 free throws compared to the Skyhawks 9-of-14 mark.
 
The Cougars, who are mourning the loss of their team manager, Kaylee McBeth, improve to .500 overall with an 8-8 overall record and a 6-6 RMAC record.
 
Three Skyhawks netted double digit points with Erika Richards leading both team with 22 points.  Richards netted 8-of-12 from the floor and 3-of-4 from both three-point range and the free throw line.  Christine Groh recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds (tied career high).  Ashley Kuchar chipped in 11 points, nine of which came from long range, and she pulled down seven rebounds, dished out six assists and blocked three shots.
 
CCU's Claire Paxton led the Cougars offense with 16 points after making 7-of-9 from the floor.
 
Fort Lewis out-shot and out-rebounded CCU, but the Cougars scored 23 points off of FLC's turnovers.  On the night, the Skyhawks netted 40.7 percent from the floor (24-59) and 40 percent from long range (8-20).  The Skyhawks defense held CCU to a 36.9 field goal percentage (24-65) and only 7.1 percent from behind the arc (1-14). 
 
On the glass, Fort Lewis pulled down 48 rebounds compared to CCU's 36, tallying a 12-rebound advantage.
 
The Skyhawks will travel to Golden, Colo. to face Colorado School of Mines Saturday night at 5 p.m.