Northern N.M. NNMU 1-1

Fort Lewis FLC 0-3,0-0 RMAC

Northern N.M. NNMU

1-1

Final

Nov. 17, 2023

Fort Lewis FLC

0-3,0-0 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Northern N.M. NNMU	18	16	15	18	67
Fort Lewis FLC	26	12	10	14	62

Summary
Box Score

Kaitlyn Silva

Senior Ember Cervantes played in her 52nd career game in Friday's home opener

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 11/17/2023 5:38:00 PM | Angela Roberts, Assistant AD-Communications

Three reach double figures in home loss to Northern New Mexico

DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team got off to a hot start in its season opener, but a second-half surge saw Northern New Mexico University run away with a 67-62 win.

Fort Lewis shot 33.3 percent (18-of-54) from the field and 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from three compared to 38.6 percent (22-of-57) field goal and 46.7 percent (7-of-15) three-point shooting for Northern New Mexico. The Skyhawks dropped in 21 free throws (65.6%) versus 16 (76.2%) for the Eagles. Northern New Mexico out-rebounded Fort Lewis 41-39.

Sophomore Lanae Billy led all players with a season-high 21 points, followed by junior Kelsey Sorenson who scored 15—her third double-digit outing of the year. Junior Samantha Wattawa followed with a career-high 11 points to go along with seven rebounds. Junior Sydney Bevington led the team with 10 rebounds.

Sorenson was the primary offensive weapon early in the home opener, scoring six points to see her team ahead 6-4. The Eagles responded to tie the game at the 6:26 mark, but Billy put her team ahead on the following possession with a deep three. Fort Lewis extended the lead to four points with a midrange jumper by Bevington, taking advantage of several physical plays to pull away. Sorenson continued her prowess last in the quarter, driving to the rim for her 13^th point to make it 19-11. Junior Avery Evans closed out the quarter with a commanding layup to give her team a 26-18 lead.

Northern New Mexico came out of the break with a three-pointer to make it a two-possession game, and Fort Lewis remained scoreless over the next three minutes of play. Bevington finally broke the spell with her second bucket of the afternoon, and the Eagles followed it up with five straight points to make it 28-26. Northern New Mexico scored on a free throw to pull within one, but Billy scored two of her own just 10 seconds later to make it 30-27. Billy began to heat up late in the half, scoring a pair from beyond the arc to give the Skyhawks a seven-point edge. A late three for the visitors trimmed the lead as the buzzer sounded on a 38-34 score.

Billy led all players with 14 points in the first half thanks to 4-of-5 shooting from deep. Sorenson followed with 13 points and a team-high four steals.
The third quarter was scoreless for just over two minutes before Wattawa got Fort Lewis going off an assist from junior Sadie Misner. The Eagles came back with threes on the following possessions to tie the contest at 42-all with six minutes remaining in the quarter. Billy connected on two more free throws late in the quarter, but Northern New Mexico answered back with four points to take a 49-47 lead. The Skyhawks earned one more point down the stretch to trail 49-48 heading into the final quarter.

Cervantes scored a pair from the charity stripe to begin the fourth quarter, but the Eagles went on to extend the lead to 56-50 with 6:50 remaining. Fort Lewis would score one more point before a media timeout sent the teams to their benches with 4:50 to go. Out of the break, it would be Wattawa at the free throw line, and after a pair of makes the Eagles went on to score a pair of jumpers. Billy scored four more points with under two minutes to go, but the Eagles' lead grew to double figures late. Freshman Natalie Guanella gave Fort Lewis some life with 12 seconds remaining when she scored her first career three-pointer. Despite the late spark, including a jumper at the buzzer from Wattawa, the Skyhawks ultimately fell by a 67-62 final.

Up Next
Fort Lewis (0-3) will face Northern New Mexico (1-1) for a rematch tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. from Whalen Gymnasium.

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