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Katie Lamb
Kaitlyn Silva
Freshman Katie Lamb has averaged 13.5 minutes per game through two games

Women's basketball travels to play two at Westminster Invite

11/14/2024 11:51:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – After opening the season at home, the Fort Lewis College women's basketball will face a road test against Colorado Mesa University and Westminster University in nonconference action at the Westminster Invite.

Last Time Out
Fort Lewis went 1-1 at its home, Conference Crossover, last week. First, the Skyhawks earned a 53-47 win over Western New Mexico to kick off the 2024-25 campaign. Fort Lewis shot 35.1 percent (20-of-57) from the field and was limited to shooting just 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from three. The Skyhawks defense held the Mustangs to just one three-pointer on the night as the team shot just 8.3 percent from deep. The Skyhawks totaled 33 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, compared to 37 rebounds for the Mustangs. The teams combined for 36 turnovers with Western New Mexico committing 24.

Junior Darla Hernandez led the team with 12 points and five rebounds, followed by redshirt junior Sydney Bevington with 10 points. The duo of senior Livia Knapp and freshman Claudia Palacio Gamez combined for 14 points. Sophomore Trista Hoobler recorded four steals and dished out three assists.

The next night, Fort Lewis dropped a 67-48 contest to Eastern New Mexico. The Skyhawks shot 31.6 (18-of-57) on the night compared to a 46.6 percent (27-of-58) efficiency for the Greyhounds. Eastern New Mexico converted 25 points off of turnovers while Fort Lewis dropped in 21. Neither team spent too much time at the free throw line with just 16 shots attempted on the night. Fort Lewis was outrebounded 41-31.

Junior Deniece Ryan led the team with 10 points, followed by junior Darla Hernandez at nine points and six rebounds. Senior Livia Knapp handed out six assists to go along with five rebounds.

Scouting Colorado Mesa University
The Mavericks opened the season with a No. 23 ranking in the D2CSC Women's Basketball Poll but have since dropped out after a 1-1 start to the year. The Mavericks opened the year with a narrow 80-78 loss to West Texas A&M despite a second-half push that saw them outscore the Buffs 46-35. Colorado Mesa followed it up with a 79-76 win over UT Permian Basin the next day.

After two games, Colorado Mesa is averaging 78.5 points per game (+.5) while shooting .399 from the field and .277 from three. The Mavericks are pulling down 37.5 rebounds (-2.5) to go along with 17 assists, 7.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game.

Olivia Reed leads the team with 24.5 points and 11 rebounds per game en route to being named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week. She's backed up by reigning RMAC Freshman of the Year, Mason Rowland, who is averaging 19.5 points and seven rebounds per game. Rowland was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts last week. Riley Hayes rounds out double-digit scorers for the Mavericks with 15 points per game off the bench. Kylie Kravig paces the squad by averaging seven assists per game.

Fort Lewis is 21-51 all-time against Colorado Mesa and has lost the last 11 meetings. Friday's game is the first neutral site matchup between the programs. Last season, Colorado Mesa earned an 87-71 win over Fort Lewis in Grand Junction.

Scouting Westminster University
The Griffins are 0-2 this season after two losses to Texas A&M Kingsville at home last week. On Friday, Westminster lost a tight 66-63 contest before falling in a 71-47 final on Saturday. Westminst is coming off a 3-25 season where they went 0-15 at home and 1-21 in conference play.

As a team, Westminster is averaging 55 points per game (-13.5) while shooting .404 from the field. The Griffins are more efficient beyond the arc where they shoot .488 percent with 10.5 makes per game. The are averaging 32 rebounds per game (+5) to go along with 14.5 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game. Westminster commits 17.5 turnovers per game compared to 9.5 for its opponents.

Individually, Teuila Nawahine leads the team by averaging 11.5 points per game. She is followed by Abby Conlee at 10 points per game and Maia Rhay at eight points per game. Maunayia Harrigfeld leads all players with 8.5 rebounds per game.

Fort Lewis leads the all-time series at 12-6 and has won the last four meetings. The Skyhawks earned wins in both games last season, including a 58-52 home win and a 71-50 win in Salt Lake City.

Inside the Numbers
The Skyhawks have averaged 50.5 points per game (-6.5) this season while shooting .333 from the field. Fort Lewis is shooting .216 from three and averages four made threes per game. They are 15-25 from the free throw line (.680). On defense, the Skyhawks have averaged 32 rebounds per game (-7) and 11 steals per game. A problem area has been in the turnover category where they are averaging 22.5 per game.

Junior Darla Hernandez leads the squad so far with 10.5 points per game, followed by junior Deniece Ryan at eight points per game. Hernandez is also the top rebounder with 5.5 per game, followed by senior Livia Knapp at five per game. Knapp has handled point guard duties and leads the way by averaging four assists per game.

RMAC Preseason Rankings
Fort Lewis was selected to finish 12th in the conference in the preseason coaches' poll. The Skyhawks pulled 52 votes to come in ahead of Chadron State (45), New Mexico Highlands (36), and Westminster (29). Colorado Mesa was tabbed to take home the conference crown with seven first-place votes, followed by UCCS, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State—each team earning at least one first-place vote.

Redshirt junior Sydney Bevington was tabbed as the Skyhawks' Player to Watch by the league. Bevington was a force early in the season last year before bowing out due to injury after six games. She recorded a notable 18 rebound game at home versus Northern New Mexico and ultimately averaged 8.7 rebounds and 5.7 points per game through six games.

Up Next
Fort Lewis is back home next week with a 3:00 p.m. tipoff against Northern New Mexico on Saturday, November 23. Prior to Saturday's game, we welcome Western Colorado University for a neutral site game on Friday versus Northern New Mexico.
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