LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Fort Lewis College women's basketball team returned to the win column Saturday behind a 23-point performance from sophomore Katie Lamb, earning a 78-58 road victory over New Mexico Highlands.
The win moves Fort Lewis to 14-8 overall and 7-7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), while NMHU falls to 10-11 overall and 6-8 in league play.
Lamb scored a season-high 23 points on six made three-pointers (6-of-9). Junior Makaya Porter added 16 points, while freshman Alemaualii Fonoti finished with 10 points (4-of-6) and tied for the team lead with six rebounds.
The Skyhawks shot 47.6 percent from the field and 35 percent from three, compared to 33.9 percent from the field and 25 percent from three for the Cowgirls. NMHU held a 41-37 rebounding edge but committed 24 turnovers, which led to 18 Fort Lewis points.
Fort Lewis opened the game on a 6-0 run and held the Cowgirls scoreless for the first five minutes. Porter pushed the lead to 10 points with a layup at the 3:23 mark before NMHU cut the deficit to 10-7. Lamb answered with her first three-pointer of the afternoon, and the Skyhawks closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to take a 19-10 lead into the second.
NMHU opened the second quarter with baskets on its first two possessions to stay within six, but Lamb responded with another three-pointer off an assist from Guanella to spark a 9-0 run. After the Cowgirls ended the run with a three, Fort Lewis answered with a 13-0 surge to build a 43-19 lead with 3:33 remaining in the half. NMHU used a late run to cut the deficit to 43-28 at halftime.
The third quarter featured early free throws and traded baskets as Fort Lewis maintained control. NMHU cut the deficit to nine with 5:15 remaining, but the Skyhawks responded, building the lead back to 17 on baskets from Fonoti and Porter to make it 55-38 with under three minutes to play. The Cowgirls scored five late points, while Fort Lewis added four in the final 30 seconds to take a 59-43 lead into the fourth.
NMHU opened the fourth with a three-pointer, but Lamb answered with back-to-back threes to push the lead to its largest margin. The advantage grew to 24 midway through the quarter after baskets from Josie Davis and Porter. The teams traded baskets late, and Antia Decampo Gonzales capped the scoring with a layup to secure the 78-58 win.
