DURANGO, Colo. – Despite a strong first half, the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team was slowed by a near-perfect third quarter from UCCS, ultimately falling 75-68 to conclude week five of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play.
With the loss, the Skyhawks dropped to 12-6 overall and 5-5 in conference action, while the Mountain Lions improved to 11-7 on the season and 7-3 in the RMAC. Fort Lewis now sits in a three-way tie for seventh place in the league alongside New Mexico Highlands and CSU Pueblo.
Fort Lewis shot 40.7 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three-point range, highlighted by a 7-of-9 performance from beyond the arc in the first half. UCCS finished at 41.7 percent shooting and capitalized at the free-throw line with 32 makes. The Skyhawks held a narrow 37-34 edge on the glass but committed 21 turnovers and were blocked eight times.
Three Skyhawks reached double figures, led by sophomore Katie Lamb with 16 points. Sophomore Claudia Palacio Gámez added 15 points, while freshman Alemaualii Fonoti chipped in 14. Junior Makaya Porter contributed eight points and a strong defensive effort, collecting eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. UCCS was paced by Amyah Moore Allen, who recorded a dominant 28-point, eight-rebound, six-block performance.
The Mountain Lions struck first in the opening quarter, but Fort Lewis responded with three quick three-pointers to take a 9-5 lead. UCCS used free throws to pull within two, before Lamb and Palacio Gámez connected on two more threes to push the Skyhawks ahead 17-9 with 4:20 remaining. Moore Allen hit a late three for UCCS, but a layup from Fonoti capped the quarter with Fort Lewis leading 21-14.
Senior Ashten Martinez opened the second quarter with a layup to extend the Skyhawks' advantage to nine. UCCS responded with a run to cut the deficit to one possession, but Palacio Gámez scored midway through the quarter to rebuild the lead. Lamb later knocked down a three at the 1:13 mark to make it 42-31, and after a forced turnover, Porter converted a layup at the buzzer to send Fort Lewis into halftime with a 44-31 lead.
UCCS executed its game plan in the third quarter, holding Fort Lewis scoreless for more than three minutes while trimming the deficit to 44-35. Fonoti ended the drought with a layup, but the Mountain Lions answered with another run. UCCS closed the quarter on a 12-0 surge, outscoring Fort Lewis 22-4 in the period to take a 53-48 lead heading into the fourth.
Porter opened the final quarter with a jumper, but UCCS scored five quick points to maintain momentum. Free throws pushed the Mountain Lions' lead to as many as 12 points before Fort Lewis answered with back-to-back layups to cut the margin to two possessions with under two minutes remaining. A late layup by Fonoti kept the Skyhawks within reach, but UCCS sealed the game at the free-throw line to secure the 75-68 victory.
Fort Lewis (12-6, 5-5 RMAC) remains at home next week, hosting Colorado School of Mines (12-9, 7-3 RMAC) and MSU Denver (7-11, 5-5 RMAC).
