N.M. Highlands NMH 5-4,2-1 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC 3-6,1-2 RMAC

N.M. Highlands NMH

5-4,2-1 RMAC

Final

Dec. 10, 2024

Fort Lewis FLC

3-6,1-2 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
N.M. Highlands NMH	18	13	11	22	64
Fort Lewis FLC	16	10	12	14	52

Summary
Box Score

Kaitlyn Silva

Senior Darla Hernandez (30) had a 10 point, 10 rebounds game in the loss to New Mexico Highlands

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 12/10/2024 8:10:00 PM | Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications

Skyhawks suffer home loss to Cowgirls

DURANGO, Colo. – Turnovers plagued the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team in a 64-52 home loss to New Mexico Highlands University in Tuesday night, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

The Skyhawks fell to 3-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play while the Cowgirls improved to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in the league.

After three straight games with new season lows in turnovers, Fort Lewis struggled on possession and committed 21 turnovers. The Cowgirls converted turnovers for 14 points on the night. The Skyhawks shot 33.9 percent (19-of-56) on the night and 31.9 percent (6-of-19) from three compared to 41 percent (25-of-61) from the field and 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from three for the Cowgirls. NMHU narrowly led the rebound battle, 38-37.

Senior Darla Hernandez was solid on both sides of the ball with 10 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double in the last six games. Junior Deniece Ryan tied a career-high 15 points while drawing a game-high six fouls. Ryan has reached double figures in each of the last three games.

Sophomore Trista Hoobler started the game with a three-pointer on the opening possession, and the Cowgirls eventually stole the lead with a pair of layups. The Skyhawks responded with three points from Ryan only to have the lead grabbed by the visitors with a three around the six-minute mark. The lead swapped sides multiple times through the midway point, but the Cowgirls had the upper hand with a late jumper to carry an 18-16 lead into the second quarter.

NMHU grew the lead to seven points through the first two minutes of the second quarter before a jumper from senior Livia Knapp stalled the momentum. The next two minutes saw a pair of threes by the Cowgirls which extended the lead to 11 points, and Fort Lewis came back with five points from Knapp and Ryan for a 29-23 score. Both teams scored a pair of points in the final two minutes, and sophomore Natalie Guanella ended the half with a free throw to make it 31-26.

Fort Lewis got on the board within the first minutes of the third quarter followed by a layup from Ryan to make it a one-possession game. Hoobler cut the difference to two points at the eight-minute mark, and that difference remained until a 7-0 scoring run had the Cowgirls ahead 42-33 late in the quarter. Hernandez got Fort Lewis back into the scoring column in the last 90 seconds, and Knapp hit a three-pointer to wrap up the third quarter in a 42-38 score.
The Cowgirls began a dominant fourth quarter with eight straight points to build their lead back to double-digits.

Freshman Claudia Palacio Gámez gave the Skyhawks a spark with a three from the logo, and a jumper by Hernandez eventually made it 51-45 with 6:33 remaining. Shots struggled to fall for Fort Lewis throughout the quarter, and NMHU took advantage by rebuilding the lead to double-digits. Ryan put away another jumper in the final 14 seconds, and two more field goals by the visitors capped it off in a 64-52 final.

Fort Lewis (3-6, 1-2 RMAC) will play on the road on Thursday in Alamosa, facing Adams State University in the final conference game of the 2024 calendar year. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside of Plachy Hall.

Print Friendly Version