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Kate Gallery
Kaitlyn Silva

Women's basketball returns home to face Eagles and Cougars

1/18/2024 10:00:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Assistant AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – Following a four-game road stretch, the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team will be welcomed back to Whalen Gymnasium this week for a pair of league contests against Chadron State College and Colorado Christian University.

Last Time Out
The Skyhawks dropped both road games last week against UCCS (62-77) and Regis (66-72). In the loss to the Mountain Lions, 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.

The following night, the teams were nearly identical from the field, Fort Lewis shooting 41.5 percent (22-of-53) compared to a 42.1 percent (24-of-57) clip for Regis. The Rangers held the Skyhawks to shooting just 18.2 percent from three. Regis outrebounded Fort Lewis at a 40-30 clip, but the Skyhawks capitalized on 22 points off of turnovers.

Billy led the team with 21 points to go along with three assists, followed by Gallery who recorded 16 points and six rebounds. Senior Kelsey Sorenson came away with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Scouting Chadron State
The Eagles are 5-8 on the year and 3-6 in conference play following a split with Colorado Mesa (L, 49-70) and Westminster (W, 62-61). Chadron is averaging 59.9 points per game this season compared to 67.4 from their opponents. The Eagles rank fifth in the league with a field goal percentage of 41.9. They are outrebounding the opposition by a 3.6 margin.

Individually, Ashayla Powers is leading the team with 12.5 points per game on a field goal percentage of 55.0. Kylie Krise and Liberty Line follow with seven points per game. Powers is also the leading rebounder with 6.2 per game, followed by Allison Olsen at 4.4. Kyra Tanabe leads all players with 45 assists, and six players have double-digit steals.

Fort Lewis is 14-3 all-time against Chadron State, including a flawless 8-0 mark at home. Last season, the Skyhawks dropped a 66-61 road contest despite a 29-point outing by Billy.

Scouting Colorado Christian
The Cougars are 10-5 on the year and 6-3 in conference play after sweeping Westminster (76-55) and Colorado Mesa (65-63) at home last week. Colorado Christian ranks fifth in the conference by averaging 70.5 points per game, 4.5 points per game better than their opponents. The team is fourth in the league with a field goal percentage of 42.4. They outrebound their opponents 36.5 to 32.1.

Individually, the Cougars are led by Maggie Hutka who averages 18.6 points per game—a mark that is tied for second in the conference. Three players followed by averaging at least nine points per game. Dasiya Jones leads the way with 7.9 rebounds per game, followed by Hutka's 6.7 per game. Nicole Bowlin leads the way with 54 assists.

Fort Lewis leads the all-time series by a 15-11 margin, including a 9-3 edge in games played at home. Despite the series lead, Fort Lewis dropped last season's meeting by a 90-61 final on the road.

Around the RMAC
Mines leads the conference ranks with a 14-1 overall record and a 9-0 mark in league play, Regis (12-3, 7-2 RMAC) and UCCS (10-6, 7-3 RMAC). Fort Lewis sits in eighth at the midway point of the season with a league record of 5-4. In the statistical standings, Fort Lewis ranks seventh in points per game (65.9), seventh in 3-point FGs made (6.4), fifth in free throw percentage (76.0), fourth in scoring defense (61.9), second in turnover margin (5.40), second in steals (13.5), and first in attendance (780).

Inside the Numbers
Fort Lewis is led by sophomore Lanae Billy who is averaging 15.4 points per game, followed by senior Kelsey Sorenson who is putting up 13.3 per game. From there, six players average over five points per game. Junior Samantha Wattawa leads the team with 5.8 rebounds per game. Billy leads the team and ranks second in the conference with a 3.4 steals per game average, and junior Sadie Misner is close behind with 2.5 per game (7th in RMAC). Billy's mark ranks 10th in all of NCAA Division II.

Up Next
Fort Lewis will be on the road to close out the month of January, first with a game versus Colorado Mesa University on Friday, January 26th. The Skyhawks wrap up the month against Westminster University the following night.
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