DURANGO, Colo. – A 30-point fourth quarter surge lifted MSU Denver to a 76-66 come-from-behind victory over the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Saturday.
The loss moves the Skyhawks to 13-7 overall and 6-6 in RMAC play, while the Roadrunners improve to 9-12 overall and 7-5 in conference action.
Fort Lewis shot 37.5 percent from the field and 8.3 percent from three-point range but found success at the free throw line, finishing 17-of-24. MSU Denver shot 40 percent from the floor, knocked down six three-pointers, and went 22-of-29 at the stripe. The Skyhawks held a slight 40-37 rebounding edge but committed 25 turnovers — their second-highest total in conference play this season.
Sophomore Katie Lamb led Fort Lewis with 13 points, followed by junior Natalie Guanella with 12. Freshmen Savanna Dotray and Alemaualii Fonoti added nine points each. Senior Ashten Martinez pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while three Skyhawks finished with six boards apiece. Sophomore Claudia Palacio Gámez recorded five assists, marking her seventh game this season with at least five. MSU Denver was led by Mikylah Espinosa, who finished with a game-high 24 points.
Fort Lewis opened the game strong, getting early scoring from three players to build an 8-4 lead in the first three minutes. MSU Denver responded to tie the game, but Lamb converted two free throws before Dotray scored six late points to give the Skyhawks an 18-13 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter opened with 90 seconds of scoreless play before Guanella's layup pushed the lead to 20-13. Guanella later converted a three-point play to make it 25-18 with six minutes remaining. MSU Denver capitalized at the free throw line and hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cut the Fort Lewis lead to three at halftime.
Fort Lewis maintained a lead of around five points early in the third quarter before an MSU Denver three-pointer made it a one-possession game. The Roadrunners took a 41-40 lead off a Skyhawks turnover, and the teams traded the lead twice more. Fort Lewis regained control late and carried a 48-46 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Freshman Josie Davis opened the final period with a jumper, helping Fort Lewis maintain the lead for the first three minutes. MSU Denver then used a 12-2 run to take a 64-56 lead with 3:29 remaining. Guanella added free throws late, but the Roadrunners sustained their momentum to secure the 76-66 final.
Fort Lewis (13-7, 6-6 RMAC) begins a four-game road stretch next week with matchups at Adams State (17-5, 11-1 RMAC) and New Mexico Highlands (10-9, 6-6 RMAC). Following Saturday's result, the Skyhawks sit in a three-way tie for eighth place in the conference with eight regular-season games remaining.
