Colorado Mesa CMU 18-4,13-2 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC 6-17,3-12 RMAC

Colorado Mesa CMU

18-4,13-2 RMAC

Final

Feb. 13, 2025

Fort Lewis FLC

6-17,3-12 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Colorado Mesa CMU	22	15	25	16	78
Fort Lewis FLC	19	11	22	19	71

Summary
Box Score

Kaitlyn Silva

Senior Livia Knapp (33) scored 15 points in the home loss to nationally-ranked CMU (Feb. 23)

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/13/2025 7:48:00 PM | Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications

Foul shots decide fate in women’s basketball’s loss to #24 Mavericks

DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team's battle against No. 24 Colorado Mesa University was decided at the free-throw line with the Mavericks totaling 23 foul shots compared to just three for the Skyhawks in a tight, 78-71 final.

Fort Lewis dropped to 6-17 overall and 3-12 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play while Colorado Mesa improved to 18-4 and continues to lead the conference at 13-2.

The Skyhawks enjoyed a sound shooting night, going 46 percent (29-of-63) from the field and 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from three. The Mavericks owned a shooting percentage of 47.3 (26-of-55) and made three, three-pointers. The key difference in the match-up came at the stripe where Colorado Mesa went 23-of-28 versus a 3-of-5 night for Fort Lewis.

Junior Deniece Ryan led the Skyhawks with 16 points (7-of-10) in just 19 minutes of court time. Senior Livia Knapp followed with 15 points and a team-high four assists. Sophomore Sarah Chick and junior Laisha Armendariz tied for the team lead with six rebounds apiece. Colorado Mesa was led by frontrunner for RMAC Player of the Year, Olivia Reed-Thyne, who poured in 34 points (15-of-26) to go along with 11 rebounds.

The Mavericks opened the contest on a scoring run that saw them ahead by nine points after three minutes of play. Knapp began the effort to chip away with a made three-pointer, followed by one from sophomore Natalie Guanella to make it a four-point game. Ryan got in on the scoring from deep for a 15-13 difference with 3:12 to go, and a jumper from senior Darla Hernandez tied things up on the following possession. Colorado Mesa scored on back-to-back attempts to reclaim a lead and held a 22-19 advantage after the first quarter.

The second quarter began with another hot start by the visitors with a 7-0 run extending the lead. Knapp eventually snapped the streak thanks to a steal and jumper for a 29-21 score at the six-minute mark. Back-to-back threes off the hands of Evan Kingston and Ryan trimmed the difference to four points before another stretch of points saw an eight-point game. Fort Lewis dropped in another jumper with 43 seconds to go, followed by a free throw from Colorado Mesa to see a 37-30 score at the half.

Freshman Katie Lamb kicked off the third quarter with a quick three-pointer, and the Skyhawks worked to pull within two points with seven minutes on the clock. Free throws began to add up for the Mavericks who managed to extend their lead to 53-46 with 3:03 to go. Hernandez went to work with a pair of field goals to see a two-possession game in the final minute of the quarter. Colorado Mesa ended the quarter with two more free throws to carry a 62-52 lead into the final quarter.

Fort Lewis was the first to score in the fourth quarter thanks to a fastbreak layup from Ryan, and sophomore Trista Hoobler followed with a three to pull her team within seven. The teams traded points over the next 90 seconds before going scoreless for nearly two minutes. The Mavericks finally found offensive rhythm with a layup for an 11-point lead with five minutes to go. After scoring with a pair of layups, Fort Lewis found a three-ball from Lamb to trail by just six points with 1:46 on the clock. Guanella secured a key rebound on the next possession for the Mavericks, and Knapp converted for two points and a 72-68 score. Colorado Mesa spent the last minute at the foul line to secure a 78-71 win.

Fort Lewis (6-17, 3-12 RMAC) returns to Whalen Gym on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off against Western Colorado University (16-6, 11-4 RMAC)

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