Fort Lewis FLC 8-6,5-3 RMAC

UC-Colo. Springs UCCS 9-6,6-3 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC

8-6,5-3 RMAC

Final

Jan. 12, 2024

UC-Colo. Springs UCCS

9-6,6-3 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Fort Lewis FLC	11	18	19	14	62
UC-Colo. Springs UCCS	23	17	23	14	77

Summary
Box Score

Junior Avery Evans (4) scored a career-high 17 points in the loss to UCCS

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 1/12/2024 7:06:00 PM | Angela Roberts, Assistant AD-Communications

Skyhawks fall to Mountain Lions in road opener

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Despite a career-high 17 points from junior Avery Evans, the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team began this week's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road trip with a 77-62 loss to UCCS.

The Skyhawks dropped to 8-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play while the Mountain Lions improved to 9-6 on the year and 6-3 in league play.

Fort Lewis shot 37 percent (17-of-46) from the field compared to a 50 percent (28-of-56) clip for UCCS. The Skyhawks got to the free throw line 28 times, making 23 attempts, versus 13 made free throws for the Mountain Lions. Fort Lewis struggled with ball control and committed 26 turnovers, allowing UCCS to score 21 points via the turnover.

Sophomore Lanae Billy led all players with 21 points, followed by Evans' career-best 17 points. Evans ranked second on the roster with six rebounds. Sophomore Kate Gallery led the Skyhawks with eight boards.

Defense was the name of the game through the game's first three minutes with the Mountain Lions holding a 3-2 advantage. Billy gave Fort Lewis its first lead of the contest at the 6:27 mark after hitting a three, and UCCS responded with a bucket to tie it up. UCCS came back to take a four-point lead before a pair of made free throws from Billy had Fort Lewis trailing by two. The Mountain Lions used the following two minutes to extend the lead to 18-9, benefitting from Skyhawks turnovers and fast-paced offense. UCCS hit a late three to carry a 23-11 lead into the second half.

Billy reached double-figures early in the second quarter with a driving layup, and the Mountain Lions followed it up with free throws to see a 28-13 score. Gallery joined in the scoring one minute into play with a corner three to cut the deficit to 12 points. Fort Lewis used points from Evans and Billy to narrow the gap to nine points with 6:42 on the clock. The Mountain Lions broke their three-minute scoreless streak with a jumper to see the score at 32-21. The Skyhawks did what they've been doing all season and chipped away at the charity stripe, making it 35-27 with 2:35 remaining. Despite the late pressure, UCCS managed to turn the tables for a 40-29 edge at halftime.

Out of the break, Evans and senior Kelsey Sorenson combined for baskets to cut into the lead, but the Mountain Lions benefitted from a seven-point run to push the lead to 15 points. Billy got in on the scoring action with a quick three, followed by another layup by Sorenson to see a 52-39 score. The teams traded points midway through the quarter with makes from Billy keeping Fort Lewis in contention. The final minute went scoreless as the scoreboard reflected a 63-48 score at the end of three.

Sorenson opened the fourth quarter with a layup, and the following two minutes went scoreless for a 63-50 score. After a technical was assessed to the UCCS bench, Gallery cut the lead at the free throw line with a pair of makes. The lead dwindled further at the midway point of the quarter, but the home team responded with a deep three to give the Mountain Lions separation. UCCS began to pull away further late in the quarter and buzzer layup by freshman Natalie Guanella made it a 77-62 road final.

Up Next
Fort Lewis (8-6, 5-3 RMAC) will face Regis University (11-3, 6-2 RMAC) tomorrow afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. tip-off from the Regis Field House in Denver.

Fort Lewis leads the all-time series with a 14-11 record but has dropped the last three meetings. The Skyhawks are 6-6 when facing the Rangers on the road.

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