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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Aubre Fortner 2.23
Peyton Rutkowski
FLC senior Aubre Fortner scored eight points on Saturday against Western Colorado.
76
Winner Western Colo. WC 19-6,17-4 RMAC
64
Fort Lewis FLC 15-11,10-10 RMAC
Winner
Western Colo. WC
19-6,17-4 RMAC
76
Final
64
Fort Lewis FLC
15-11,10-10 RMAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Colo. WC 16 16 18 26 76
Fort Lewis FLC 14 10 17 23 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

FLC falls to Western Colorado to conclude home schedule, remains alive for RMAC playoff spot

DURANGO, Colorado — The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team closed out the home portion of its schedule Saturday evening, dropping a 76-64 final to Western Colorado University for what was just the team's third loss this season inside the friendly confines of Whalen Gymnasium.

While it was a disappointing result for the Skyhawks on Senior Night, the team did receive good news as Metropolitan State University-Denver also lost on Saturday, meaning the two teams stay deadlocked for the eighth and final playoff spot with one regular season game remaining.

For the Skyhawks (15-11 overall, 11-10 RMAC), that regular season finale comes at 5:30 p.m. Friday on the road against Adams State University. Since FLC owns the tiebreaker over MSU Denver, a win over the rival Grizzlies would clinch a spot in the RMAC Tournament.

"We were really heading into these last two games knowing we had to win both games, but there was a game dropped by another team, so all we have to do now is win to get into the tournament," said Fort Lewis head coach, Orlando Griego. "As sad and as emotional as it was for our team in the locker room, we broke that news to our team and there was almost like a newfound energy and relief that 'OK, we're not finished. We have some unfinished business. Our spirits are high and our girls are excited about next week."

In Saturday's matchup, it was the physicality of the visiting Mountaineers (19-6 overall, 17-4 RMAC), and the outside shooting of Samantha Coleman, that would prove to be the difference.

FLC was held to 29% (11-of-38) shooting in the first half, entering the break trailing 32-24, and finished the evening 24-of-61 (39%) and 4-of-14 from 3-point range (29%) as WCU made it tough for the Skyhawks to create open looks.

"We kept missing bodies for screens and I don't think we matched their physical play," Griego said. "I thought they played very physical and we weren't able to reciprocate that on the offensive end."

Fort Lewis was able to stay in the game with a spirited defensive effort as it limited the Mountaineers to 40% shooting (21-of-52).

The Skyhawks finished with a 34-24 advantage in points in the paint, led by freshman forward Jordan Vasquez with a team-high 12 points, and produced six blocks and six steals as a team.

Unfortunately for FLC, the duo of Coleman and Jessie Erickson took turns carrying the scoring load for the Mountaineers as Erickson scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half, and Coleman tallied 19 of her game-high 24 over the final 20 minutes.

"They're really tough and that's the thing; you put emphasis on one player and the other player steps up," said Griego of Erickson and Coleman. "That's what makes them really good and why they're a really good team."

Coleman caught fire in the fourth quarter, making her last four 3-pointers to thwart the Skyhawks' attempts to claw back into the game.

"Very deflating. As we get momentum and we start to really gain some confidence, she (Coleman) was found wide open or a challenged shot and it was going down," Griego said. "We could have done a better job of chasing her — she made three or four shots from the same place — of running her off of different areas."

Junior forward Jordan Carter, as well as seniors Kayla Herrera-Flores and Aubre Fortner all scored eight points Saturday to help pace the Skyhawks' offense.

The team will now look to regroup and get ready for a crucial matchup against nearby rival Adams State (3-24 overall, 3-18 RMAC) next Friday with the chance to punch their ticket to the RMAC Tournament.

The chance to compete in the RMAC Tournament would be a fitting parting gift for the Skyhawks' three seniors — Herrera-Flores, Fortner and Kaitlyn Romero — each of whom Griego said have been vital pieces to the FLC program during their time in Durango.

"They've been huge. Kayla and Kaitlyn have been here the longest, but Aubre jumped right in there and they continued to lead by example," Griego said. "They bring a lot of toughness and that's really what Coach Mac (Cydney McHenry) and I love. Their legacy is going to continue with being really tough, being able to handle just about anything, and pushing through it. We're very grateful for them, what they've done for Fort Lewis and what they've done for the community of Durango. We're lucky to have them as future alumni."
 
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