MSU Denver MSUD 1-6,0-1 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC 3-4,1-0 RMAC

MSU Denver MSUD

1-6,0-1 RMAC

Final

Dec. 05, 2024

Fort Lewis FLC

3-4,1-0 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
MSU Denver MSUD	16	16	21	13	66
Fort Lewis FLC	12	18	24	20	74

Summary
Box Score

Kaitlyn Silva

Freshman Katie Lamb (10) celebrates with her team after one of five three-pointers in her career-high 22 point performance

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 12/5/2024 8:02:00 PM | Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications

Lamb’s career night leads Skyhawks to win in RMAC opener

DURANGO, Colo. – A season-high shooting percentage and a career-high 22 points for freshman Katie Lamb guided the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team to a 74-66 come-from-behind win over MSU Denver to open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

The win lifts Fort Lewis to 3-4 on the year and 1-0 in the league while MSU Denver fell to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC.

The Skyhawks shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) from the field while knocking down eight three-pointers. The Roadrunners shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53) from the field and were limited to just two buckets from beyond the arc. Both teams spent a good portion of the contest at the foul line, led by MSU Denver's 35 free throw chances. A key to success for the Skyhawks came from the bench where they earned 41 bench points. Fort Lewis ended the game with 15 total turnovers after carrying 11 into the halftime break.

Lamb led the team with 22 points, most for a Fort Lewis player this season, after going 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-8 from three. She was backed up by junior Deniece Ryan who enjoyed a 14 points outing while sophomore Natalie Guanella came off the bench for 12 points (6-of-7 FG). Senior Darla Hernandez and Lamb tied for the team lead with six rebounds apiece. Guanella led the way with four assists and senior Livia Knapp had a team-high three steals.

Offense and defense clicked early in the contest with an MSU Denver shot clock violation leading to a layup from Ryan for a quick lead. Fort Lewis maintained the lead through four minutes of play thanks to a trio of turnovers for MSU Denver, making it 7-5 at the first timeout. The Roadrunners eventually took their first lead of the night with a driving layup after holding the Skyhawks scoreless for over three minutes. The lead grew for the visitors thanks to a 10-0 surge that was finally snapped by a three from Knapp. The one-possession game carried into the final minute of the quarter where the teams exchanged free throws, but MSU Denver had the upper hand late and led 16-12 heading into the second quarter.

Hoobler scored her first bucket of the night after narrowly missing throughout the first quarter, cutting the difference to two points early in the second. The Roadrunners continued their hot streak that featured 3-of-4 shooting and chances at the stripe to extend the lead to its first double-digit difference with five minutes to go. The Skyhawks sparked a scoring run with a layup from Katie Lamb, followed by a drive by Natalie Guanella to make it 28-22 with 3:07 remaining. Lamb's hot hand led to another three points off an assist from Guanella to see a one-possession game once again. Ryan closed out the first half with a three-pointer to send the teams to the locker room in a 32-30 score that favored MSU Denver.

The Roadrunners benefited from more time at the free throw line early in the third quarter and extended the lead to nine points with seven minutes on the clock. Senior Eva Kingston cut into the difference with a put-back layup for a 40-33 score. Fort Lewis found momentum at the five-minute mark when Guanella scored on a beautiful layup, followed by an inbound steal and layup by Knapp for a 42-37 score. The Skyhawks kept within striking distance as the quarter neared the red zone and eventually made it a one-point game following Lamb's second three-pointer of the game. Lamb's corner three on the ensuing possession gave Fort Lewis a 52-51 lead with 40 seconds remaining, and two made free throws from Knapp saw a 54-53 lead heading to the fourth.

Lamb continued to lead her team offensively and knocked down another three to see a 57-55 lead early in the fourth quarter. She made it a three-point lead moments later by scoring her fifth three-ball of the night, bringing her point total to a career-high 19 with six minutes to go. The Roadrunners reclaimed the lead with four minutes remaining, and Guanella got it back with a savvy layup to give her a season-high eight points. She reached double-figures on the next possession after beating her defender right for a 64-61 score. MSU Denver snapped a two-minute scoreless stretch with a pair of made free throws, cutting the Fort Lewis lead to just one point. Guanella responded with another driving layup, but the Roadrunners went to the line for their 34^th and 35^th free throw chances of the game and made it 66-64. Ryan converted for four quick points, aided by a key steal from Lamb, to force a timeout with a 70-64 edge. The final 40 seconds featured more free throws for the Skyhawks who ran away with a 74-66 win.

Fort Lewis (3-4, 1-0 RMAC) will face Regis University (3-4, 1-0 RMAC) for a Saturday matinee at 1:00 p.m. from Whalen Gymnasium. The Rangers are coming off an 84-77 win over New Mexico Highlands to open the conference portion of their season.

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