GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A slow start against No. 4 Colorado Mesa University led to a road loss for the Fort Lewis College women's basketball team. The result moves the Skyhawks to 14-9 overall and 7-8 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, while the Mavericks extended their winning streak to 22 games.

Fort Lewis shot 29.8 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from three, attempting nine free throws. Colorado Mesa finished at 40.4 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from three while converting 22 free throws. The Mavericks also held a 43-rebound advantage and forced 16 turnovers. Fort Lewis recorded nine steals in the loss.

Junior Makaya Porter led the Skyhawks with 14 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Katie Lamb added 13 points, followed by junior Natalie Guanella with 11. Senior Ashten Martinez pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while freshman Josie Davis added five. Colorado Mesa was led by Olivia Reed Thyne, who posted a 25-point, 15-rebound double-double.

Lamb scored Fort Lewis' first basket nearly five minutes into the opening quarter. The Mavericks responded with a 7-0 run before freshman Alemaualii Fonoti finished a tip-in to make it 11-4. The Skyhawks were held scoreless over the final two minutes, and Colorado Mesa added two more points to take a 13-4 lead into the second quarter.

The second quarter opened with improved offense, as Fort Lewis knocked down a pair of three-pointers to cut the deficit to 16-10. The Skyhawks then went on an 11-0 run midway through the quarter, capped by two free throws from Guanella to make it 25-23 with 1:25 remaining. Colorado Mesa answered late with two three-pointers and made free throws to take a 33-24 lead into halftime.

Colorado Mesa extended its lead again in the third quarter behind consistent shooting, pushing the score to 42-28. Lamb hit a three at the 3:44 mark, followed by another from Guanella just over a minute later. The Mavericks continued to capitalize at the free-throw line to build a 52-38 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Offense was limited early in the fourth, with Porter scoring the first basket for either team on a layup three minutes into the period. Porter then hit back-to-back three-pointers and added a layup to cut the deficit to 62-48 with 1:55 remaining. The final two minutes were largely decided at the free-throw line, as the game ended with a 69-50 final.