Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Sydney Candelaria 2.13
Benjamin Brashear, FLC Marketing
FLC senior guard Sydney Candelaria scored a career-high 21 points in Friday's loss to CSM (File Photo)
81
Winner Colo. Sch. of Mines CSM 12-2,11-2 RMAC
64
Fort Lewis FLC 4-7,4-7 RMAC
Winner
Colo. Sch. of Mines CSM
12-2,11-2 RMAC
81
Final
64
Fort Lewis FLC
4-7,4-7 RMAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Colo. Sch. of Mines CSM 17 18 27 19 81
Fort Lewis FLC 14 8 19 23 64

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

Candelaria scores career-high 21, but Skyhawks fall to Orediggers by 81-64 final

DURANGO, Colorado — The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team ran into a deep, high-powered Colorado School of Mines team on Friday, falling by an 81-64 final inside Whalen Gymnasium.

The visiting Orediggers (12-2 overall, 11-2 RMAC), winners of seven straight, had four players in double-figures and shot over 50 percent in all four quarters Friday, leaving a razon thin margin for error for the Skyhawks (4-8 overall, 4-8 RMAC).

"(CSM) shot 51 percent for the ballgame and when you allow that, it makes it difficult to put yourself in a position to win," said Fort Lewis head women's basketball coach, Orlando Griego. "Credit to them for making shots, getting into the paint and keeping the ball alive. They're a very good basketball team and well coached. They were the better team tonight."

Mines spoiled what was a 2021 breakout game for senior guard Sydney Candelaria as she poured in a career-high 21 points to lead all scorers Friday.

Candelaria, who has battled injury much of the 2020-21 season, was an efficient 7-of-14 from the field, 2-for-4 from the 3-point line, and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Her 21 points tops her previous career-high of 20, set on Feb. 1, 2019 on the road against Dixie State.

"Her health is obviously the most important thing and she felt really good, had a really good week of practice and is starting to feel comfortable with herself," Griego said. "She played great tonight and I was glad I had a front row seat to see her play that well… she was a multi-level scorer and that's really hard to guard."

Candelaria's runner with six seconds remaining in the first quarter brought the Skyhawks back within three at 17-14 after trailing by as many as nine in the opening frame.

CSM was able to bump the gap to 35-22 at the half and went off for 27 points in the third quarter, finally solving the Skyhawks' full-court pressure, to take a 62-41 lead into the fourth quarter.

"Once they were able to break out press, we had some blown assignments and they were able to score some easy baskets," Griego said of Mines' runs during the second and third quarters. "They're length bothered us, we were playing on our heels and didn't really have an attack mentality."

Offensively, sophomore forward Jordan Vasquez recorded her third double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and tying her career-high in rebounds with 14.

True freshman Iva Drobnjak scored seven points and added two assists in her best game of her young career. But the Skyhawks as a team shot just 37.7% (20-of-53) and committed 18 turnovers that halted any comeback attempt.

"I thought we got a little tired. We worked really hard to get back into it and did a great job of putting pressure on them to get back into it. But then we had some shots not fall," Griego said. "We had empty possessions and when you miss some shots, you have empty possessions off turnovers, that's a good team that is going to capitalize. It's really hard to keep momentum or get it back."

Fort Lewis will now turn its attention toward a Monday make-up game on the road against Adams State University, scheduled for 4 p.m. inside Plachy Hall.

The Skyhawks were originally scheduled to host Regis University on Saturday, but were informed Friday evening that the Rangers would not be making the trip due to road conditions.
 
Print Friendly Version