SPEARFISH, S.D. – Skyhawks women's basketball cut the deficit to two possessions late in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell to Black Hills State University, 59-52, in a defensive contest on Saturday night. The 52 points marked Fort Lewis College's second-lowest scoring output of the season.
With the loss, Fort Lewis dropped to 11-5 overall and 4-4 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. Black Hills State improved to 10-5 on the year and 7-1 in the RMAC, extending its winning streak to nine games.
The Skyhawks shot 37.3 percent from the field, 17.6 percent from three-point range, and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Yellow Jackets finished at 37.5 percent shooting overall, 7.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.7 percent at the stripe. Black Hills State held a 41- rebound advantage and forced 21 Fort Lewis turnovers.
Junior Makaya Porter led all Skyhawks with 18 points, adding four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Sophomore Katie Lamb chipped in 10 points, while sophomore Claudia Palacio Gámez and senior Ashten Martinez each grabbed five rebounds.
Porter made an immediate impact, scoring the game's first four points while adding a rebound and a block to give Fort Lewis an early 4-2 edge. Black Hills State capitalized on three Skyhawk turnovers to take a 6-4 lead with under six minutes remaining. Lamb answered with five quick points, putting Fort Lewis back in front, 9-8, at the media timeout. The teams then endured a four-minute field goal drought, though Fort Lewis converted three free throws to build a 12-8 advantage. Black Hills State snapped the drought in the final minute with back-to-back jumpers to tie the game at 12 at the end of the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets carried momentum into the second quarter, opening on a 4-0 run to take a 16-12 lead. Lamb knocked down a step-back three at the 5:36 mark to pull the Skyhawks within one. Fort Lewis briefly regained the lead twice, including a 22-20 advantage with 2:45 left after Porter completed a three-point play. Defense dominated the closing minutes, but the Skyhawks found two late baskets to take a 27-23 lead into halftime.
Black Hills State opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run before Josie Davis tied the game at 29. The Yellow Jackets responded with an 8-3 run fueled by Skyhawk turnovers, extending their lead to 37-32 with under five minutes remaining. A layup out of the media timeout pulled Fort Lewis within one possession, but Black Hills State closed the quarter with four unanswered points to take a 43-36 lead.
A three-pointer by Black Hills State opened the fourth quarter and pushed the lead to double digits. Porter answered with a jumper, but scoring remained limited over the next several minutes as the Yellow Jackets held a 48-38 advantage. Fort Lewis trimmed the deficit to eight points on two occasions, but Black Hills State answered each time to maintain control. Davis converted a three-point play with 1:35 remaining to make it 55-47. The Skyhawks continued to fight, scoring on consecutive layups by Porter and Davis to pull within 57-52 with 17 seconds left. Black Hills State sealed the outcome at the free-throw line, closing out the 59-52 win.
